Escaping into a Simulated Environment: A Preliminary Investigation into How MMORPGs Are Used to Cope with Real Life Stressors

Bowditch, Lorelle; Naweed, Anjum; Chapman, Janine

doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9582-7_4

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 22 publications

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“…In previous studies, it was reported that psychiatric symptoms ( Hygen et al., 2020 ) and physical symptoms ( Aziz, Nordin, Abdulkadir, & Salih, 2021 ) were more common in the group with Internet gaming disorder. However, some reports suggest that games are used as self-medication to cope with real life stressors ( Bowditch, Naweed, & Chapman, 2019 ). Other studies also suggest that games enhance creativity and cognitive performance ( Jackson et al., 2012 ; Ruiz-Ariza, Casuso, Suarez-Manzano, & Martínez-López, 2018 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk factors and outcomes of internet gaming disorder identified in Korean prospective adolescent cohort study

Byeon

Park

et al. 2022

JBA

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Background and aims Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is known to cause various psychological and physical complications. Through data collected from an adolescent prospective longitudinal cohort, we examined how IGD is related to lifestyle and physical symptoms, as well as the temporal relationship between them. Methods This study was conducted as part of iCURE (Internet user Cohort for Unbiased Recognition of gaming disorder in Early Adolescence) in Korea between 2015 and 2019. Sleep and physical activity time, dry eye symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, and near-miss accidents were measured at baseline and followed-up after one year. IGD risk was evaluated using the Internet Game Use – Elicited Symptom Screen (IGUESS). The association between IGD risk and measured variables was analyzed, both at baseline and at follow-up after one year. Results At baseline, the IGD risk group had significantly less physical activity time and sleep time and had more dry eye symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, and near-miss accidents than the IGD non-risk group. Additionally, in the IGD risk group at baseline, dry eye symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, and near-miss accidents occurred significantly more after one year of follow-up. Discussion and conclusion The results of this study show that IGD is a significant risk factor that increases the probability of physical disease and trauma in adolescents. Therefore, interventions aimed at reducing IGD risk and protecting the physical and mental health of adolescents are imperative.

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