Internet Gaming Disorder: Exploring Its Impact on Satisfaction in Life in PELLEAS Adolescent Sample

Abstract

Among adolescents, heavy video game use and socializing online may be valued socially by peers, depending on gender and age, which can increase life satisfaction. However, heavy video gaming may also be linked to symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder, which can decrease life satisfaction. Overall, when symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder are present, do subjects experience decreased or increased life satisfaction, all other things being equal? The aim of this study was to explore the association between Internet Gaming Disorder symptoms and life satisfaction, while controlling for gender, age, and other conditions that may impact life satisfaction. More than 2000 adolescents filled out an anonymous questionnaire at school, and 43 patients in a care center filled out the same questionnaire. Sociodemographic characteristics, family life conditions, use of screens (videos, video games, and social networks), mental health screenings, and a life satisfaction measure were collected. Distribution of participants’ characteristics was provided, and stratified multivariate analyses by young male, older male, young female, and older female school populations were carried out. Results suggested that Internet Gaming Disorder symptoms had similar prevalence before and after the age of 15 in males (21% vs. 19%) and in females (6% vs. 7%) respectively and was significantly associated with decreased life satisfaction in older males, even after adjusting for parental support, depression, and economic conditions. Associations between symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder and life satisfaction may be different depending on adolescent gender and age group.

Exploratory Study on Video Game Addiction of College Students in a Pandemic Scenario

“…About gender, men are more likely to be addicted to video games than women. This data is in line with other research (Brunborg, Mentzoni, & Frøyland, 2014;Buono et al, 2020;Goudriaan, Oosterlaan, de Beurs, & den Brink, 2004;Hsieh et al, 2018;Phan et al, 2020;Ross, Månsson, & Daneback, 2012) showing an over-representation of men concerning video game addiction.…”

“…Thus, any initiatives to prevent maladaptive behaviors related to video game addiction could be managed more effectively. Especially when the cause may be due to a lack of social integration and supports, which can lead to increased isolation and increased video game consumption that, in turn, fuels a lack of social contact (Paulus et al, 2018;Phan, Prieur, Bonnaire, & Obradovic, 2020).…”

Internet Gaming Disorder in Early Adolescents: Gender and Depression Differences in a Latent Growth Model

“…Gender can significantly negatively predict the rise in IGDs in early teens, which means that girls are more likely to experience a larger increase in IGDs in early teens than boys. This is consistent with the results of another study (Phan et al, 2020) showing that, before and after the age of 15, symptoms of IGD were prevalent in men at 21% and 19% and in women at 6% and 7%, respectively [ 38 ], although the differences were not statistically significant, but the trends were consistent with those of the current study.…”

The Impact of Online Game Addiction on Adolescent Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…The International Classification of Diseases 11 th edition (ICD-11) considers IGD among addictions beyond the fact that addictive behavior involves the use of psychostimulants and is characterized primarily by greed. Repeated and continuous engagement in online games results in clinically severe pain, with a broad spectrum of psychological problems including depression, anxiety, social phobia, poor school performance (achievement), and sleep deprivation [18], [19], [20].…”