Different Typologies of Gamers Are Associated with Mental Health: Are Students DOOMed?

(1) Background: The inclusion of Internet Gaming Disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) led to a rapid development of assessment instruments based on the suggested diagnosis. However, previous studies suggest that some of the symptoms in the diagnosis reflect engagement in gaming rather than a disorder or addiction. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate mental health associations with different typologies of gamers. (2) Methods: Data stemmed from a large national survey of students (SHoT2022) that was conducted between February and April 2022 (N = 59,544). Participants were categorized into non-gamers, recreational gamers, engaged gamers, problematic gamers, and addicted gamers. Logistic regression models adjusted for age were analyzed with and without gender-stratification for mental distress and life satisfaction as dependent variables across gaming categories. (3) Results: The proportion reporting case-level mental distress was lower for recreational gamers compared to non-gamers, indicating fewer mental health problems for recreational gamers. However, after stratifying the analysis by gender, female recreational gamers had higher levels of mental distress compared to female non-gamers, reflecting Simpson's paradox. (4) Conclusions: Future studies investigating mental health and gaming should include a gender perspective.

The Association between Video Game Time and Adolescent Mental Health: Evidence from Rural China

As digital devices like computers become more widely available in developing countries, there is a growing need to understand how the time that adolescents spend using these devices for recreational purposes such as playing video games is linked with their mental health outcomes. We measured the amount of time that adolescents in rural China spent playing video games and the association of video game time with their mental health. We collected data from primary and junior high schools in a poor, rural province in northwest China (n = 1603 students) and used the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21) to measure mental health symptoms. The results indicated that the average video game time was about 0.69 h per week. There was a significant association between adolescent video game time and poorer mental health. Each additional hour of playing video games also increased the chance of having moderate or above symptoms. Moreover, boys and non-left-behind children had worse mental health if they played more video games. Our study contributes to literature on the links between recreational screen time and mental health, and it sheds light on an issue addressed by recent government legislation to limit the video game time of minors in China.

Research on the Impact of Pro-Environment Game and Guilt on Environmentally Sustainable Behaviour

Game strategies are widely used by companies to attract users and increase their stickiness. At the same time, the protection of the ecological environment is also an important expression of corporate social responsibility. This paper explores the integration of social responsibility with gaming strategies from the psychological perspective of game withdrawal, and explores the incorporation of social responsibility as an element in gamification design to reduce user withdrawal behaviour, thereby increasing individual's environmentally sustainable behaviour. We evidenced our hypothesis through two studies. Study one proved our hypothesis by recruiting 106 university undergraduates (from Wuhan University, mean age 20, of whom 47 were female and 59 were male) to prove our hypothesis by recalling previous experiences with different types of games. Study two further tested our hypothesis by manipulating participants' guilt through randomly recruiting 196 participants (mean age 35, of whom 88 were female and 108 were male, 35 of them were students, 107 were office workers and 54 were from other sectors) from different industries through the questionnaire research website Credamo. The findings show that incorporating social responsibility elements into the design of games can make users engage in pro-social behaviour while playing the game, and the guilt that users feel because of the game will be compensated by pro-social behaviour, thus reducing the game frequency and duration and improving the intent of pro-social behaviour. At the same time, players' self-control moderates the effect of guilt on game play volume under a socially responsible gamification design.

Youth screen use in the ABCD® study

Adolescent screen usage is ubiquitous and influences development and behavior. Longitudinal screen usage data coupled with psychometrically valid constructs of problematic behaviors can provide insights into these relationships. We describe methods by which the screen usage questionnaire was developed in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, demonstrate longitudinal changes in screen usage via child report and describe data harmonization baseline-year 2. We further include psychometric analyses of adapted social media and video game addiction scales completed by youth. Nearly 12,000 children ages 9-10 years at baseline and their parents were included in the analyses. The social media addiction questionnaire (SMAQ) showed similar factor structure and item loadings across sex and race/ethnicities, but that item intercepts varied across both sex and race/ethnicity. The videogame addiction questionnaire (VGAQ) demonstrated the same configural, metric and scalar invariance across racial and ethnic groups, however differed across sex. Video gaming and online social activity increased over ages 9/10-11/12 (p's < 0.001). Compared with boys, girls engaged in greater social media use (p < .001) and demonstrated higher ratings on the SMAQ (p < .001). Compared with girls, boys played more video games (p < .001) and demonstrated higher ratings on the VGAQ (p < .001). Time spent playing video games increased more steeply for boys than girls from age 9/10-11/12 years (p < .001). Black youth demonstrated significantly higher SMAQ and VGAQ scores compared to all other racial/ethnic groups. These data show the importance of considering different screen modalities beyond total screen use and point towards clear demographic differences in use patterns. With these comprehensive data, ABCD is poised to address critical questions about screen usage changes across adolescence.

Recovery Experiences Protect Emotionally Exhausted White-Collar Workers from Gaming Addiction

Gaming addiction and its negative consequences have attracted public concern, but relatively little is known regarding its impact on adult workers. This study aims to test the association between gaming addiction and emotional exhaustion as well as the protective effect of recovery experiences on such an association among white-collar workers. We recruited 205 working adults (female = 58%) who voluntarily completed an online questionnaire. The results showed that male and younger workers were more vulnerable to gaming addiction. Emotional exhaustion was significantly and positively associated, while two (i.e., relaxation and control) of the four recovery experiences were negatively correlated with gaming addiction. Control experience had an indirect effect on gaming addiction via emotional exhaustion. Moreover, relaxation experience buffered the risk effect of emotional exhaustion on gaming addiction so that the effect is less pronounced at high levels of relaxation. Interventions are suggested to raise workers' awareness of effective recovery experiences (especially for control and relaxation) and to facilitate their recovery opportunities.

The prevalence and possible risk factors of internet gaming disorder among adolescents and young adults: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

As a spreading addictive behaviour in recent years, internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been studied a lot and the overall research results indicate that IGD has a high prevalence among adolescents and young adults (AYAs). To update the status quo of prevalence, it is necessary to conduct comprehensive analyses.

METHODS

On the premise of following the PRISMA statement, the study conducted two systematic reviews and meta-analyses to assess the global prevalence of IGD among AYAs and identify its possible risk factors. To achieve the goals, PubMed and CNKI databases were used to select the concerned studies published up to May 31, 2021. Heterogeneity was assessed using a funnel plot, Begg's test, Egger's test, and trim-and-fil method, followed by sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression analysis.

RESULTS

For the meta-analysis of prevalence, 407,620 participants from 155 reports in 33 countries were included. The pooled prevalence of IGD among AYAs was 9.9% (95% CI: 8.6%-11.3%, P = 0.000, I² = 94.4%), including 8.8% (95% CI: 7.5%-10.0%) among adolescents and 10.4% (95% CI: 8.8%-11.9%) among young adults. The following 12 factors are the possible risk factors of IGD among AYAs, which are stress, long average game time, family dysfunction, poor academic performance, being bullied, bullying, interpersonal problems, hyperactivity/inattention, anxiety, depression, emotional distress and low self-esteem.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the prevalence and possible risk factors for IGD among AYAs. It's valuable in understanding the threat of IGD and finding intervention strategies for IGD among AYAs.

Escapism and Excessive Online Behaviors: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study in Finland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Excessive online behaviors refer to harmful or disproportionate use of digital network applications. Such behaviors are likely to be associated with escapist motives. Our aim was to analyze whether escapism predicts excessive gambling, excessive gaming, and excessive internet use over time. A longitudinal sample of Finnish residents aged 18-75 years (n = 1022, 51.27% male) was surveyed at three time points during the COVID-19 pandemic in 6-month intervals: April 2021 (Time 1), October-November 2021 (Time 2), and April-May 2022 (Time 3). Of the original Time 1 respondents, 66.80% took part in the surveys at both Time 2 and Time 3. All surveys included measures for excessive gambling (Problem Gambling Severity Index), excessive gaming (Internet Gaming Disorder Test), and excessive internet use (Compulsive Internet Use Scale). Three escapism-specific questions were used to construct a dedicated escapism variable. Socio-demographic variables, alcohol consumption, and psychological distress were used as controls. The study was conducted with multilevel regression analyses using hybrid models. Our research showed that escapism had strong within-person effects on excessive gambling, B = 0.18, p = 0.003; excessive gaming, B = 0.50, p < 0.001; and excessive internet use, B = 0.77, p < 0.001 over time. The between-person effect of escapism was demonstrated on excessive gaming B = 0.91, p < 0.001, and excessive internet use B = 0.61, p = 0.036. Adverse societal events and uncertain times can manifest in excessive online behaviors motivated by escapism, highlighting a need to focus prevention efforts on healthy coping methods.

Esports for Seniors: Acute Effects of Esports Gaming in the Community on the Emotional State and Heart Rate among Japanese Older Adults

In the last few years, esports have become popular among older individuals. Although participation in esports can become a novel activity for older adults, evidence on their effects is limited to young individuals. This study investigated the effects of esports participation on the emotional and physiological states of older adults. Twenty-five older men and women participating in health promotion activities in community centers (75 ± 8 years old) played a two-player racing game (Gran Turismo Sport, Sony) for 8-10 min. Their heart rates (HRs) were measured while the subjects played the games. The blood pressure (BP) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) were measured before and after gaming. The average HR during games (98 ± 17 bpm) was significantly higher than at pre-gaming (76 ± 11 bpm, p < 0.001). The BP before and after the games did not significantly change. Interestingly, the vigor scores (positive mood affect) in POMS increased after the games (p < 0.05) in females, but not in males. In summary, among older individuals, playing esports games showed a moderate increase in HR, no spike/drop of BP, and positive mood elevation. Our preliminary data suggest the feasibility of participating in esports in a community for older adults and that it could affect mood positively, especially among older women.

How Different Gaming Genres Can Be Described by Required Skills and Motives for Playing

With the drastic expansion of the games industry, psychological research is concerned with the question as to why certain genres might be more addictive than others. Besides specific games characteristics and motivational profiles of gamers, skills that are relevant to play certain games and genres might provide more insights for answering this question. An exploratory online survey was designed, asking for played genres, subjective relevance of required skills to play the game, gaming motives, and symptom severity. The analyses aimed at investigating which genres are associated with higher and lower symptoms of their players and the relationship between the relevance of skills required for certain genres and the symptom severity of players. In total, 727 data sets were collected. Descriptive results indicated that the most pronounced difference between genres associated with low and high symptom severity appeared among the indicated relevance of communicating with others, the social motive for gaming, and among the relevance of required executive function skills such as attentional vigilance. The communication skill is discussed as a vulnerability factor for maintaining problematic gaming behaviors despite the occurrence of negative consequences, whereas certain executive functions could be constitutional factors of the experience of a flow state. The association between flow and addictive gaming tendencies is a topic yet to be investigated in future research.

Disordered gaming in esports: Comparing professional and non-professional gamers

INTRODUCTION

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) proposed 'Internet Gaming Disorder' (IGD) as a tentative disorder (APA framework) in 2013 and in 2019 the World Health Organization (WHO) has fully recognized 'Gaming Disorder' (GD) as a mental health disorder (WHO framework). These two frameworks have not yet been jointly investigated in the context of esports. The present study aims to investigate the feasibility of the APA and WHO frameworks for disordered gaming among professional and non-professional gamers and to ascertain the suitability of existing psychometric tools for use in esports.

METHODS

A sample of 5,734 gamers (M_age = 21.47 years, SD = 6.69 years; 6.94% female) recruited through an online survey prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that included an age and gender matched group of professional (n = 2,867) and non-professional gamers (n = 2,867) was investigated. Pairwise comparisons, measurement invariance (MI), and latent mean difference tests were conducted to distinguish the two groups of gamers.

RESULTS

Overall, professional gamers showed greater time spent gaming and prevalence of disordered gaming than non-professional gamers. Additionally, MI was supported and both disordered gaming levels and latent means were significantly higher among professional gamers when compared to non-professional gamers across both APA and WHO frameworks.

CONCLUSIONS

Esports is cross-sectionally associated with greater disordered gaming vulnerability through increased time spent gaming and disordered gaming prevalence rates. Furthermore, the APA and WHO frameworks are viable in the context of esports gaming with existing assessment tools being effective in the assessment of disordered gaming in esports. The results and implications are further discussed in light of the extant literature.

The Relationship between Depressive Symptoms, Loneliness, Self-Control, and Gaming Disorder among Polish Male and Female Gamers: The Indirect Effects of Gaming Motives

The present study analyzed the relationship between gaming disorder (GD), motives for gaming, and psychological problems in daily life (i.e., depression, loneliness, and self-control deficits) among Polish gamers. More specifically, the purpose of the present study was to analyze the indirect effects between GD and psychological problems in daily life via motives for gaming among male and female gamers. Additionally, the present study examined gender differences in motives for gaming and the relationship between the analyzed variables. The sample comprised 652 gamers (233 females; M = 28.77 years; SD = 7.18; age range: 18-48 years). The nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Version (IGDS9-SF) was used to assess GD. The motives for gaming were assessed using the Motives for Online Gaming Questionnaire (MOGQ). The nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess depressive symptoms, and the Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS) was used to assess self-control. Loneliness was assessed using the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. In order to examine the relationship between the study variables, path analysis and indirect effects analysis were performed among both male and female gamers. The present study showed that depressive symptoms and self-control exerted a significant indirect effect on GD via escape and fantasy motives for gaming. Additionally, there was an indirect effect between depressive symptoms and GD via social motives for gaming. However, these indirect effects were found among male gamers only. The present study also showed gender differences in all analyzed gaming motives except escape (males scoring higher on all of them) and in the relationship between depressive symptoms and escape. These findings contribute to a better understanding of GD development mechanisms, which are associated with psychological problems in daily life.

An exploratory study of problematic shopping and problematic video gaming in adolescents

Problematic video gaming (PVG) and problematic shopping (PS) are addictive behaviors prevalent in adolescents, characterized by positive and negative reinforcement, and associated with psychosocial impairment. This study examined how PS and PVG relate in adolescents. It also examined how PS interacts with PVG in relation to health/functioning measures. Survey data from 3,657 Connecticut high-school students were evaluated. Chi-square analyses and logistic regression models were used to assess relationships between PS and measures of PVG. Interaction analyses measured effects of PS on relationships between PVG and health/functioning measures. Relative to adolescents without PS, those with PS had 8.79-fold higher odds of exhibiting PVG and were more likely to endorse gaming to relieve anxiety and impairment due to gaming. Interaction analyses revealed that in adolescents with PS, the relationships between PVG and aggressive behaviors, including fighting, serious fighting leading to physical injury, and weapon-carrying, were stronger than in adolescents without PS. PS strongly relates to PVG, and among youth reporting PS, there are stronger associations between PVG and aggressive behaviors. Prevention efforts for adolescents should consider the co-occurrence of PS and PVG. PS and PVG may be linked by negative reinforcement and propensities for aggressive and addictive behaviors, suggesting that further research should explore possible interventions targeting stress management and maladaptive coping.

Music-based casual video game training alleviates symptoms of subthreshold depression

Objectives

In this preregistered study, we investigated the beneficial effects of music-based casual video game training on the depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in a cohort of young individuals with subthreshold depression and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

The study included 56 young individuals (18–26 years of age) with subthreshold or mild depression based on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores between 14 and 19. They were randomly assigned into the experimental group (n = 28) or the control group (n = 28). The experimental group underwent music-based casual video game training for 4 weeks. During the same time, the control group participants conducted daily life activities without any intervention. The study participants in the two groups were analyzed using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) during the baseline before the intervention, as well as DASS-21, Positive and negative Affect Scale (PANAS), General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES), and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) twice a week during the 4 weeks of intervention.

Results

The depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were significantly reduced in the experimental group participants after 4 weeks of music-based video game training compared with the control group. The DAS scores in the experimental group were alleviated in the third and fourth weeks of training compared with the control group. Moreover, analysis using the general linear model demonstrated that the number of training weeks and self-efficacy were associated with significant reduction in depression, anxiety and stress. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that self-efficacy was correlated with positive emotion and emotional regulation.

Conclusion

Our study showed that music-based casual video game training significantly decreased depression, anxiety, and stress in the young individuals with subthreshold depression by enhancing self-efficacy.

Predictors of Gaming Disorder or Protective from It, in a French Sample: A Symptomatic Approach to Self-Regulation and Pursued Rewards, Providing Insights for Clinical Practice

Gaming disorder (GD) is a new health condition still requiring a lot of evidence established around its underlying and related psychological mechanisms. In our study we focused on Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs), a specific very popular and engaging game genre, to determine that benefit, motivation and control aspects could be predictive of a dysfunctional engagement in gaming. In total, 313 participants were recruited from private forums of gamers between May 2009 and March 2010. They filled out a questionnaire on their socio-demographic data and their weekly gaming time. They also completed different psychometric assessments such as the DSM IV-TR criteria for substance dependence adapted to gaming such as the Dependence Adapted Scale (DAS), the external rewards they expected from gaming (External Motives), the expected internal reward they expected from gaming (Internal Motives), the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale (ZSSS), and the Barratt impulsiveness Scale (BIS-10). Results showed that some psychological factors related to online gaming represented risk factors for GD in participants (i.e., competition and advancement motives, reduced anxiety, solace, greater personal satisfaction, and sense of power), whereas some others were found to be protective factors from GD (i.e., recreation, enjoyment and experience seeking) in participants. Additionally, the study found that disinhibition, boredom susceptibility, thrill and adventure seeking, and high impulsivity were correlated to GD in participants. In conclusion, not only motives for gaming and impulsivity could be predictors for GD, but maladaptive coping strategies based on experienced relief in-game from negative feelings (anxiety and boredom) or experienced improvement in-game of self-perception (personal satisfaction, sense of power) could play as well a role of negative reinforcers for GD. Some benefits from gaming, typically entertainment and enjoyment, are shown to be protective factors from GD, playing the role of positive reinforcing factors. They are worthy of being identified and promoted as functional gaming habits. These findings can feed the clinical and health promotion fields, with a more in-depth understanding of diverse psychological factors in gamers, identifying those at risk for GD and those protective from it. The current work can foster a more balanced approach towards gaming activities, taking their opportunities for mankind and controlling for their adverse effects in some individuals.

The validity of qualtrics panel data for research on video gaming and gaming disorder

Crowdsourced samples are increasing in popularity, particularly within psychological and addictive behaviors research. The trend has resulted in significant interest in the use of panel samples for the examination of behavioral and substance addictions. One newer panel platform, Qualtrics, has seen an increase in usage in recent years despite lack of research examining the validity of Qualtrics-produced data for addictive behaviors. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the validity of Qualtrics-obtained data for the most recently classified behavioral addiction-video gaming. The evaluation compared a Qualtrics-recruited video gamers sample (n = 586) to traditional community (n = 108) and student (n = 217) samples on demographics and key outcomes relevant to gaming disorder researchers (average playtime, frequency of gaming, and gaming disorder risk scores) to evaluate the generalizability of Qualtrics panel data. The results revealed that Qualtrics samples were comparable to a traditionally recruited community sample, but different from a student sample on gaming frequency (p < .001) and risk for gaming disorder (p < .001). The Qualtrics sample also had longer durations of average gaming time relative to the student sample (p = .01), with some differences in demographics between the all three sources of recruitment. The findings suggest that Qualtrics may provide a suitable method of convenience panel recruitment, generalizable to the broader North American community, for research examining video gaming behaviors and gaming disorder. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Effectiveness of multimodal psychotherapeutic intervention for internet gaming disorder

BACKGROUND

Large number of studies on Internet gaming disorder (IGD) have primarily focused on ascertaining its psychological correlates. Few studies have focused on developing and assessing effectiveness of multimodal psychotherapeutic intervention programs. This intervention focused on minimizing salience, pre-occupation, conflict related to gaming and enhancing the overall quality of life, inclusive of psychological health, physical health, and environmental problems in individuals with IGD. At present, there appear to be no such studies in the Indian context.

METHODS

In this study, we developed and assessed the effectiveness of an intervention manual for IGD. The intervention program consisted of ten 60-minutes sessions with one therapist administering sessions once in each week. The interventions included motivational enhancement strategies, cognitive restructuring, behavioral strategies and relapse prevention. The outcomes from intervention were measured in terms of improvement in IGD, IAT, and overall quality of life. Our assessments, both at baseline and post-intervention consisted of Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD-20) and the Whoqol-Bref. A total sample of 40 was selected out of which 33 individuals completed the 10 sessions of multimodal psychotherapy program and post assessments.

RESULTS

A total of 40 participants (age: M = 20.25, SD = 5.39) enrolled, out of which 33 completed the entire intervention program of 10 sessions and showed significant improvements. The IAT and IGD-20 showed significant difference in the scores for before treatment (M = 52.88, SD = 16.25) and after treatment (M = 42.87, SD = 11.31; t (32) = 5.10, p = 0.000) conditions; and right before treatment (M = 56.88, SD = 19.25) and after treatment (M = 47.87, SD = 15.31; t (32) = 6.94, p = 0.000) conditions respectively. The internet addiction and internet gaming disorder scores showed a similar degree of severity reductions on the IAT and IGD-20 respectively at the end of week 8. In addition, the participants showed significant improvements in the quality of life inclusive of physical and psychological health post the completion of intervention program.

LIMITATIONS

The sample size of the study was small and assessments for evaluation of other psychological symptoms like depression, anxiety could have been conducted.

CONCLUSION

The intervention program indicated a substantial change in the IGD scores at post- assessment. A study on a larger sample to assess the validity of the manualized multimodal psychotherapy program for IGD needs to be conducted. In addition, this manualized intervention program can be useful for administering structured intervention for IGD by mental health professionals working in the area of internet gaming disorder.

Mental health literacy of Internet gaming disorder and problematic smartphone use among Korean teenagers

The last few decades have seen an increased interest in ‘Mental Health Literacy (MHL)’ which addresses knowledge and beliefs relating to mental health problems and is likely to hinder treatment-seeking behaviors. Although MHL research to date has explored various mental disorders, far too little attention has been paid to Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and Problematic Smartphone use (PSU). The objective of this study is to develop an MHL questionnaire for IGD and PSU by adopting the MHL approach in the previous literature and examine MHL of IGD and PSU in Korean teenagers by focusing on their ability to recognize addictions, and perceptions and help-seeking attitudes towards a person with addictions. The current study also aimed to compare Korean teenagers’ MHL depending on low- and high-risk of IGD and PSU. A total of 169 teenagers aged 10 and 16 years were recruited from schools and children’s centers in Seoul and completed the newly developed MHL questionnaire and screening questionnaires for IGD and PSU. The MHL questionnaire for IGD and PSU was designed as a vignette-based questionnaire that depicted behavioral characteristics of a severe problem with Internet and smartphone usage. Korean teenagers had a poor ability to recognize IGD and PSU and were more prone to seek parental help than professional help. The current study also showed that teenagers had better recognition of IGD than PSU and perceived that a person with IGD has a more difficult life than a person with PSU. Furthermore, a low-risk or high-risk group of IGD or PSU showed minimal differences in MHL. The current study provided empirical evidence to support a need to develop educational programs to improve Korean teenagers’ MHL for both IGD and PSU.

Think-aloud analysis of commonly used screening instruments for Internet use disorders: The CIUS, the IGDT-10, and the BSMAS

Background

Despite the constant publication of new screening instruments for Internet use disorders (IUD), little is known about their content validity. This study aimed to identify potential mismatches between the items' intention and young adults' interpretation of these items when answering three screening instruments that are commonly used in research and clinical settings: The Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS), the 10 Item-Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10), and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS).

Methods

In total, 30 vocational students (50% female, age = 21.3; SD = 2.1) took part in individual think-aloud interviews. All participants were asked to report their thoughts while completing the CIUS. In addition, participants who reported online games (OG) as their main Internet activity (n = 11) answered the IGDT-10. Participants who reported social networks (SN) as their main Internet activity (n = 18) answered the BSMAS. One participant used OG and SN equally and completed both screening instruments. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and content-analysed.

Results

Overall, four potential sources for errors were identified: (1) High scorings were often not congruent with the underlying diagnostic criteria. In particular, such discrepancies were found in items aimed to assess dysfunctional emotional regulation strategies and cognitive involvement. (2) Some participants were uncertain which time frame or Internet activity should be considered in their answers. (3) Long and complex items led to the building of mean values or the choice of the middle answer category. (4) Some wordings were perceived to be outdated and difficult to understand.

Discussion

These findings might help to provide recommendations on how to improve screening instruments for IUD. Most important, items should more clearly distinguish between Internet use as a "normal" leisure activity and Internet use that leads to functional impairments in daily life.

Internet Gaming Disorder and Aggression among Students on School Closure during COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

The Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly disrupted the regular school-going activities of the students, predominantly increasing internet gaming activities to endure significant stress. Excessive involvement in internet gaming brings deviant behaviour, especially aggression among the students. Hence, this study aimed to assess the internet gaming disorder and aggression among the students on school closure during COVID-19 pandemic in Chitwan, Nepal.

METHODS

A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 417 students from secondary and higher secondary level who studied in two private schools of Chitwan district. Sample were selected using simple random sampling technique and structured questionnaire, i.e. Internet gaming disorder scale- short form (IGDS9-SF) and Aggression questionnaire (Buss and Perry, 1992) were used to collect the data via web-based through Google Form. Obtained data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

Out of 417 students, the mean age was 17 (±1.411) years, 278 (66.7%) were male and 150 (36.0%) were studying in twelve standard. Majority of students 405 (97.1%) were non-disordered gamers whereas only 12 (2.9%) students were disordered gamers. Students' overall aggression score was 57.79% where the verbal aggression score was higher (66.33%) followed by hostility (61.41%) and anger (56.80%). Further significant positive relationship was found between scores on online gaming disorders and aggression (r=0.239).

CONCLUSIONS

Internet gaming disorder and aggression are common among the students during COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, educational institutions and concern authorities need to organize awareness programs and effective psychosocial intervention approaches for students to enhance the knowledge regarding harmful use of internet game, IGD, to cope with stress and aggression as well as to enhance the adoptive behaviour.

Relation between internet gaming addiction and comorbid psychiatric disorders and emotion avoidance among adolescents: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Internet Gaming Disorder has been a controversial subject. Even though internet addiction has been studied among adolescents, there is a lack of evidence regarding Internet Gaming Disorder. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence rate of Internet Gaming Disorder and the relationship between Internet Gaming Disorder, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and emotion avoidance among adolescents.

METHODS

Four hundred seven adolescents aged 11 to 18 years old were recruited. Participants were divided into two groups based on the internet gaming addiction scale-Adolescents with IGA (N = 40) and adolescents without IGA (N = 367). All participants were evaluated for demographic data, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), socioeconomic scale, and the Emotional Avoidance Strategy Inventory for Adolescents (EASI-A).

RESULTS

The adolescent with IGA had a higher mean of the number of hours and devices using Internet gaming apps than an adolescent without IGA. Regarding SDQ, adolescents with IGA had a significantly higher mean value for all subscales of SDQ except the prosocial scale and all subscales of EASI-A compared with adolescents without IGA.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents with IGA had more hours and devices using Internet gaming apps; more comorbid psychiatric disorders and problems in emotional expression inform of using avoidance techniques than adolescents without IGA.

Visualization, Self-Efficacy, and Locus of Control in a Virtual Reality Biofeedback Video Game for Anxiety Regulation

The current study aimed to identify specific feedback mechanics and psychological processes that may contribute to positive outcomes in biofeedback applications for anxiety regulation. Specifically, using a dismantling study design, the unique impact of visualizations that directly mirror users' breathing was examined in relation to anxiety regulation as well as locus of control and self-efficacy. Following an anxiety induction, participants (N = 67) were randomly assigned to play one of two variations of a biofeedback video game. In both versions, players' in-game movement was contingent on their breathing; however, the experimental condition additionally included visualizations that directly mirrored players' breathing. Changes in self-reported state anxiety and physiological arousal were measured as well as the level of internal control and self-efficacy participants experienced while playing the game. Results showed that all participants were able to effectively reduce their anxiety and arousal, but no condition differences were found. Implementing mirroring visualizations did not contribute to individuals' ability to self-regulate nor their self-efficacy or locus of control above and beyond receiving feedback based on their in-game movement. Overall, individuals who experienced higher self-efficacy and a stronger internal locus of control were better able to regulate their anxiety, but no clear links were found with changes in self-reported physiological arousal. In light of these results, we recommend the continued exploration of the role of specific design choices and intervention components as well as underlying mechanisms of change in biofeedback interventions, especially pertaining to how individuals perceive themselves and their ability to change.

A review of serious games for urban water management decisions: current gaps and future research directions

Urban water management (UWM) is a complex problem characterized by multiple alternatives, conflicting objectives, and multiple uncertainties about key drivers like climate change, population growth, and increasing urbanization. Serious games are becoming a popular means to support decision-makers who are responsible for the planning and management of urban water systems. This is evident in the increasing number of articles about serious games in recent years. However, the effectiveness of these games in improving decision-making and the quality of their design and evaluation approaches remains unclear. To understand this better, in this paper, we identified 41 serious games covering the urban water cycle. Of these games, 15 were shortlisted for a detailed review. By using common rational decision-making and game design phases from literature, we evaluated and mapped how the shortlisted games contribute to these phases. Our research shows that current serious game applications have multiple limitations: lack of focus on executing the initial phases of decision-making, limited use of storytelling and adaptive game elements, use of low-quality evaluation design and explicit indicators to measure game outcomes, and lastly, lack of attention to cognitive processes of players playing the game. Addressing these limitations is critical for advancing purposeful game design supporting UWM.

Effects of exergame and video game training on cognitive and physical function in older adults: A randomized controlled trial

Few studies have simultaneously explored the training effects of exergame and video game. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exergame and video game training on cognitive and physical function in healthy older adults. Eighty-four healthy older adults were randomly assigned to exergame training group, video game training group, and control group. Cognitive and physical function was measured before and after the training. Both training groups improved in verbal memory and aerobic endurance, but the training effects were greater in the exergame training group. The exergame training group also showed significant improvement in lower limb strength and balance. The current study provides evidence that exergame training, incorporating both cognitive engagement and physical activity, exerts greater benefits than cognitively engaging video game training alone. The findings shed lights into the future use of exergame in preventing cognitive and physical function decline in older adults.

A network analysis of internet gaming disorder symptoms

We examined the symptoms network of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). We recruited 793 heavy game players online and 184 of them were diagnosed with IGD. We measured IGD via the 27-item IGD Scale and analyzed symptoms to examine how they interacted with each other to drive the addictive behaviors. Furthermore, we added motives and psychological well-being variables into the network. We found that the most central symptoms were conflict, withdrawal, and tolerance. Overall, two distinct groups of symptoms were discovered: one group for addictive symptoms and the other for psychological consequences.