Impulsivity, Self-control, Interpersonal Influences, and Maladaptive Cognitions as Factors of Internet Gaming Disorder Among Adolescents in China: Cross-sectional Mediation Study

Abstract

Background Gaming disorder, including internet gaming disorder (IGD), was recently defined by the World Health Organization as a mental disease in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Thus, reducing IGD is warranted. Maladaptive cognitions related to internet gaming (MCIG) have been associated with IGD, while impulsivity, self-control, parental influences, and peer influences are key risk factors of IGD. Previous literature suggests that MCIG is associated with the aforementioned 4 risk factors and IGD, and may thus mediate between these risk factors and IGD. These potential mediations, if significant, imply that modification of MCIG may possibly alleviate these risk factors’ harmful impacts on increasing IGD. These mediation hypotheses were tested in this study for the first time. Objective This study tested the mediation effects of MCIG between intrapersonal factors (impulsivity and self-control) and IGD, and between interpersonal factors (parental influences and peer influences) and IGD among adolescents in China. Methods An anonymous, cross-sectional, and self-administered survey was conducted among secondary school students in classroom settings in Guangzhou and Chengdu, China. All grade 7 to 9 students (7 to 9 years of formal education) of 7 secondary schools were invited to join the study, and 3087 completed the survey. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) checklist was used to assess IGD. MCIG was assessed by using the Chinese version of the Revised Internet Gaming Cognition Scale. Impulsivity, self-control, and parental or peer influences were measured by using the motor subscale of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the Brief Self-Control Scale, and the modified interpersonal influence scale, respectively. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the mediation effects of MCIG between these risk factors and IGD. Results The prevalence of IGD was 13.57% (418/3081) and 17.67% (366/2071) among all participants and adolescent internet gamers, respectively. The 3 types of MCIG (perceived rewards of internet gaming, perceived urges for playing internet games, and perceived unwillingness to stop playing without completion of gaming tasks) were positively associated with IGD. Impulsivity, self-control, parental influences, and peer influences were all significantly associated with the 3 types of MCIG and IGD. The 3 types of MCIG partially mediated the associations between the studied factors and IGD (effect size of 30.0% to 37.8%). Conclusions Impulsivity, self-control, and interpersonal influences had both direct and indirect effects via MCIG on IGD. Modifications of the 3 types of MCIG can potentially reduce the harmful impacts of impulsivity and interpersonal influences on IGD and enhance the protective effect of self-control against IGD. Future longitudinal studies are warranted.

Perceptions of School Climate and Internet Gaming Addiction among Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Effect of Deviant Peer Affiliation

“…We described the prevalence of IGA in Chinese teenagers before testing the aforementioned model. The current sample had 7.69% of participants who were addicted, which is consistent with the previous researches of “rates of possible IGD among Adolescents in China ranged between 2% and 17%” [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. It is possible that this is due to the fact that the individuals in the current study are younger than those in the study by Yu and colleagues [ 27 ].…”

“…The current sample had 7.69% of participants who were addicted, which is consistent with the previous researches of “rates of possible IGD among Adolescents in China ranged between 2% and 17%” [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. It is possible that this is due to the fact that the individuals in the current study are younger than those in the study by Yu and colleagues [ 27 ]. According to a review, the prevalence of IGA is greater in older individuals than in younger people [ 31 ].…”

Self‐control impacts symptoms defining Internet gaming disorder through dorsal anterior cingulate–ventral striatal pathway

“…14,15 Further, the level of self-reported self-control ability is inversely related to IGD. 16,17 Regarding the neural basis of IGD, abnormalities in brain structure and function in default mode network (DMN), frontoparietal network (FPN), limbic system, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and many other areas have been documented. [18][19][20] In contrast, neuroimaging studies demonstrate that cognitive control is associated with prefrontal cortex (PFC), ACC, and caudate nucleus.…”

“…In addition, individuals with IGD showed defective emotional regulation or adjustment, 11,12 poor executive function, 13 and suboptimal decision under risk and weakened ability to delay gratification 14,15 . Further, the level of self‐reported self‐control ability is inversely related to IGD 16,17 …”

Exploring the connection between parental bonding and smartphone addiction in Chinese medical students

“…It is worth noting that there exist other studies that have outlined differences in characteristics between addictive and non-addictive groups [64][65][66][67][68][69]. However, related literature failed to provide consistent evidence of relationships between individual/family factors and addictive behaviors, which include both smartphone addiction and internet addiction.…”