Social genomics of healthy and disordered internet gaming

Abstract

Our study advances understanding of the psychobiology of play, demonstrating via novel transcriptomic methods the association of negatively experienced internet play with biological measures of chronic threat, uncertainty, and distress. Our findings are consistent with the view that problematic patterns of online gaming are a proxy for broader patterns of biopsychosocial stress and distress such as loneliness, rather than a psychiatric disorder sui generis, which might exist apart from gamers' other life problems. By confirming the biological correlates of certain patterns of internet gaming, culturally-sensitive genomics approaches such as this can inform both evolutionary theorizing regarding the nature of play, as well as current psychiatric debates about the appropriateness of modeling distressful gaming on substance addiction and problem gambling.

Psychosocial issues for adolescent and young adult cancer patients in a global context: A forward‐looking approach

“…The clinical and economic impacts of social genomic relationships have not yet been explored and represent important topics for future research. Cancer social genomics research has so far analyzed psychosocial processes solely through the lens of academically defined constructs and meaning systems; however, other social genomics studies have begun to use more ethnographic approaches to define personally or culturally valid meaning spaces that shape reciprocal interactions between mind and body . Given the diversity of cancer patient experiences and AYA developmental trajectories, it will be important to utilize such idiographic and ethnographic research strategies in mapping the embodied experience of cancer.…”

“…Given the dynamic and diverse developmental processes taking place during this period and their long-term implications for adult well-being trajectories, as well as the extended periods of survivorship that many AYA cancer patients will experience, there is a great need to examine other social genomics studies have begun to use more ethnographic approaches to define personally or culturally valid meaning spaces that shape reciprocal interactions between mind and body. 33,38 Given the diversity of cancer patient experiences and AYA developmental trajectories, it will be important to utilize such idiographic and ethnographic research strategies in mapping the embodied experience of cancer.…”

Internet Gaming Disorder, Risky Online Behaviour, and Mental Health in Hong Kong Adolescents: The Beneficial Role of Psychological Resilience

“…Psychological resilience accounts for the association of depression with both IGD and risky online behaviour. Such associations between IGD and mental health may be due to social isolation resulting from spending too much time gaming, which compromises psychological wellbeing (79,80). However, psychological resilience serves as a protective factor between depression and IGD symptoms, plays a role in depression, and fosters effective coping in those with depression (5).…”

An observational study protocol to explore loneliness and systemic inflammation in an older adult population with chronic venous leg ulcers

“…Previous research in social genomics has linked adverse social conditions to increased expression of proinflammatory genes in correlational human studies, in experimental animal and human models showing causal effects, and in cellular model systems dissecting the specific molecular signaling pathways involved [39,43]. Loneliness in particular has been repeatedly linked to up-regulated expression of pro-inflammatory genes (i.e., IL1B, IL6, IL8, TNF), and down-regulated expression of genes involved in innate antiviral responses (IFNB, IFIs, MX, OAS) [18,[60][61][62][63][64][65][66]. This recurring pattern appears to reflect the activation of CTRA in myeloid-lineage immune cells [39,67].…”