Internet Gaming Addiction in Adolescence: Risk Factors and Maladjustment Correlates

Abstract

Several studies have documented the existence of a behavioral addiction related to Video Games, which appears to be similar to other forms of addiction (gambling and substance-related) in terms of characteristics and consequences. Literature about this topic has suffered from the lack of a standard definition of this disorder before the publication of DSM-5. Thus, the prevalence of the disorder and its characteristics at the moment are unclear. The present research aimed to investigate the differences between sub-clinical problematic Video Game (VG) use and Internet use and clear Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and Internet addiction in terms of gender, amount of time spent gaming, preferential coping strategies, adjustment problems, interpersonal relations, and to identify risk factors that predict a problematic engagement in video gaming. We administered a survey containing measures about coping strategies, interpersonal relations, internalizing/externalizing problems, and Internet and Video Game addiction to 612 Italian students recruited in the four main regions of the country (age range 9-19; M = 13.94). Results show that 15.2% of participants showed a subclinical problematic use of Video Games, while those with a clear IGD were 2.1% (n = 13); 16.3% of them showed a sub-clinical problematic Internet use, while full-criteria Internet addiction was found in 5.9% of the sample. IGD appears to be linked to various dysfunctional outcomes including a wide range of psychological symptoms and behavioral and social problems. Also, problematic video gamers tend to preferentially adopt dysfunctional coping Int J Ment Health Addiction

What matters is when you play: Investigating the relationship between online video games addiction and time spent playing over specific day phases

“…Video gaming is now widely considered an activity that could be related to addictive behaviors. Although the diagnosis of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is now included both in DSM 5 and ICD11, there is still debate on some specific features of such a disorder ( Griffiths et al, 2016 ; Király et al, 2014 ; Milani et al, 2017 ; Petry et al, 2014a , Petry et al, 2014b ; van Rooij et al, 2014 ; Zastrow, 2017 ). Among the numerous factors related to problematic online video game playing, time spent playing (TSP) is maybe the most debated ( Brunborg, Mentzoni, & Frøyland, 2014 ; Festl, Scharkow, & Quandt, 2013 ; Lemmens, Valkenburg, & Peter, 2009 ; Wood, 2008 ; Wood, Griffiths, & Parke, 2007 ).…”

“…However, the subsequent debate highlighted reasons why TSP may be a confounding variable and not a reliable indicator of addiction. Firstly, intensive use is not the same as addiction: players may develop profound passion and engagement towards video games, playing online or not ( Charlton & Danforth, 2010 ; Griffiths et al, 2016 ), without experiencing the negative consequences on everyday life that are typical of addiction scenarios ( Griffiths, 2010 ; Milani et al, 2017 ). Moreover, people may play for long periods of time because of contextual habits/practices that are not related to addiction (e.g.…”

The Role of Recreational Online Activities in School-Based Screen Time Sedentary Behaviour Interventions for Adolescents: A Systematic and Critical Literature Review

“…Targeting specific behaviours with the involvement of family and friends/peers has been found to aid reduction of ST levels (Biddle et al 2014;Garcia et al 2019) with evidence-based parental mediation (Bleckmann and Mößle 2014;Livingstone and Helsper 2008) and was emphasized in the studies examined. The role of gender and SES is another aspect that requires further investigation, because it appeared that a differentiation based on these factors is critical for the success of such interventions (Dong et al 2018;Leme and Philippi 2015;Milani et al 2018;Smith et al 2014aSmith et al , 2014b.…”

The Transgenerational Consequences of the Interaction Between Humans and Molecules: Alcohol as a Cultural Artifact

“…In short, a vicious circle that must be interrupted, is rooted in the body, affects the mind, and costs to society. At the center of this vicious circle, a cultural artifact that, like many of the socio-material objects of our experience, loses its neutral character depending on the individual and social uses it allows (think of the pervasive debate on the various forms of technological addiction: Milani et al, 2018).…”