A Systematic Review of the Co-occurrence of Gaming Disorder and Other Potentially Addictive Behaviors

Abstract

Purpose of Review The playing of videogames has become an everyday occurrence among many adolescents and emerging adults. However, gaming can be problematic and potentially addictive and problematic gamers can experience co-occurring behavioral or substance use-related problems. The aims of the present review were to (i) determine the co-occurrence of potentially addictive behaviors with problematic and disordered gaming, and (ii) elucidate the potential risk factors in the development and maintenance of co-occurrence within disordered gaming. Recent Findings The main findings demonstrated that there are few empirical studies (N = 20) examining (i) co-occurrence of gaming disorder with other addictive behaviors; (ii) longitudinal risk of disordered gaming with co-occurring addictive behaviors; and (iii) mechanisms of co-occurrence in disordered gaming with co-occurring potentially addictive behaviors. Results suggest that disordered gaming can co-occur with a variety of other addictive behaviors (e.g., alcohol use disorder or addictive use of social media), and that research into the co-occurrence of addictive behaviors and substance use is increasing. Summary Based on this systematic review, findings suggest that gamers engage in a number of potentially addictive behaviors and substance use which can have detrimental effects on health and wellbeing. While a majority of the reviewed studies consider prevalence rates from a range of geographical locations, there are fewer papers which investigate individual and environmental risk factors.

The Spanish Version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF): Further Examination Using Item Response Theory

“…As for the personality traits examined, IGD and consciousness were inversely correlated. This is a finding that echoes those reported in the fields of internet addiction, gambling disorder, and substance addictions [ 22 , 74 ], all of which are related to the IGD construct [ 75 ]. In contrast to other studies [ 13 ], the correlation between IGD and neuroticism was weak.…”

Access to health care for gaming disorder: A patient-centred approach to address the continuum of need

“…The reason for the low rate of treatment seeking may be due to structural issues such as the homogeneity of available treatments (intensive and face-to-face). In addition, individual factors related to GD may delay or inhibit treatment seeking, such as low insight, procrastination, impulsivity, and shyness or introversion (43)(44)(45)(46). Another possibility is that some individuals with gaming-related problems may initially seek out information, social support and assistance from less formal, convenient sources, such as online support groups (47).…”

“…Another important consideration for interventions is the complex nature of GD cases. Given high rates of co-morbidity and GD (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance use and gambling disorder) it may be that people with GD attend other services for more acute issues and therefore do not report seeking help for GD (46). Lau et al (48) for example, examined the records of 5820 clinically referred youth in the Canadian mental health system and reported that moderate to severe problematic gaming was reported by 13% of the sample; however, most of the sample had been referred for issues including threat or danger to self or others, or other psychiatric symptoms.…”

Access to health care for gaming disorder: A patient-centred approach to address the continuum of need

“…The reason for the low rate of treatment seeking may be due to structural issues such as the homogeneity of available treatments (intensive and face-to-face). In addition, individual factors related to GD may delay or inhibit treatment seeking, such as low insight, procrastination, impulsivity, and shyness or introversion (32)(33)(34)(35). Another possibility is that some individuals with gaming-related problems may initially seek out information, social support and assistance from less formal, convenient sources, such as online support groups (36).…”

“…Another important consideration for interventions is the complex nature of GD cases. Given high rates of co-morbidity and GD (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance use and gambling disorder) it may be that people with GD attend other services for more acute issues and therefore do not report seeking help for GD (35). Lau et al (37) for example, examined the records of 5820 clinically referred youth in the Canadian mental health system and reported that moderate to severe problematic gaming was reported by 13% of the sample; however, most of the sample had been referred for issues including threat or danger to self or others, or other psychiatric symptoms.…”