Pathological Gaming in Young Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study Focused on Academic Stress and Self-Control in South Korea

The Association between Academic Stress and Problematic Internet Use among Adolescents: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis

Despite previous studies examining the relationship between problematic Internet use and academic stress in adolescents, significant limitations remain, especially in terms of the nature of the stress and moderators. This study systematically examines the association between academic stress and problematic Internet use in adolescents, using a three-level meta-analysis. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, it conducted a comprehensive database search including 49 studies, with 166 effect sizes and 189,483 adolescents. The results indicate a positive correlation between academic stress and problematic Internet use in adolescents. Additionally, moderation analysis revealed that both sources of academic stress and academic stress measurement tools significantly moderated the association. The association between mixed academic stress (intrapsychic and external stressors) and problematic Internet use was significantly stronger than that between external academic stress and problematic Internet use. The association was weaker when using the Academic Expectations Stress Inventory than other scales. These findings highlight that problematic Internet use is often an maladaptive coping strategy for adolescents under academic stress, and this behavior does not vary with the specific use of the Internet. However, it also suggests that under certain cultural contexts, external academic stress can be transformed into motivation for learning. This study deepens our understanding of how academic stress influences adolescent Internet use and underscores the need for improved measurement tools to capture the complexity of academic stress.

Transitioning from perceived stress to mental health: The mediating role of self-control in a longitudinal investigation with MRI scans

Background

The neural mechanisms and long-term effects of perceived stress (PS) and self-control (SC) on mental health (MH) are not fully understood. This study seeks to investigate the influence of PS and SC on MH and to identify their neural correlates using fMRI.

Methods

A total of 817 college students participated in behavioral assessments, including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Self-Control Scale (SCS), and Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF). Among them, 371 underwent fMRI scans to calculate zfALFF and whole-brain functional connectivity. Additionally, their behavioral measures were reassessed two years later.

Results

Longitudinal behavioral data revealed significant fixed effects of perceived stress and self-control on mental health. Perceived stress significantly predicted decreased mental health at Time 2, and self-control acted as a mediator in such relationship. The results of the behavioral and brain model analyses found that zfALFF in the right temporal region negatively predicted self-control. Functional connectivity between the right temporal region and the right precentral gyrus was also found to negatively predict self-control.

Conclusion

This study highlights the mediating role of self-control in the relationship between perceived stress and mental health. It also identifies specific brain regions and functional connectivity associated with self-control, providing new neurobiological evidence for mental health interventions.

Longitudinal Relationships Between School Climate, Academic Achievement, and Gaming Disorder Symptoms Among Chinese Adolescents

Despite growing concerns regarding the development of gaming disorder symptoms among adolescents, the longitudinal relationship between school factors and gaming disorder symptoms remains far from being fully understood. This two-year longitudinal study examined the relationship between school climate perceptions, academic achievement, and gaming disorder symptoms among three distinct demographic cohorts: preadolescents (n = 1513; 46.9% girls, Mage = 10.64 years, SD = 0.56), early adolescents (n = 1771; 48.3% girls, Mage = 13.54 years, SD = 0.70), and late adolescents (n = 2385; 50.1% girls, Mage = 16.41 years, SD = 0.59). A four-wave study was conducted (six months apart) using random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) to separate the within-person (state level) from the between-person (trait level) effects. The results obtained from the RI-CLPMs indicated that fluctuations in school climate perceptions negatively predicted subsequent changes in gaming disorder symptoms among preadolescents at the within-person level, but not among early and late adolescents. Fluctuations relating to gaming disorder symptoms also negatively predicted subsequent changes regarding academic achievement in late adolescents, but not in preadolescents and early adolescents. The effect of school-related factors on gaming disorder symptoms varies across different developmental stages. While preadolescents may represent a particularly susceptible subgroup for gaming disorder in terms of being predicted by their school environment, late adolescents appear to be more vulnerable to predictors of gaming disorder symptoms. The current study also discusses the implications of school-wide programs aimed at improving school climate and preventing the development of gaming disorder symptoms during key developmental periods.

Social intelligence and pathological gaming: a longitudinal study of the associations among negative emotions, social intelligence, aggression, and pathological gaming in adolescents

Introduction

Pathological gaming continues to be highlighted as one of the most critical issues concerning adolescents. Numerous studies have aimed to elucidate the relationships between adolescents' negative emotions (e.g., peer stress, anxiety, loneliness) and social factors (e.g., social skills and relationships) with pathological gaming. Despite the recognition of social intelligence as a crucial factor related to social factors in adolescents, there is a paucity of research examining pathological gaming and social intelligence through longitudinal analyses.

Method

This study focuses on exploring the factors that induce or inhibit pathological gaming among adolescents by analysing three-year longitudinal data from Korean adolescent gamers (N=968). Using a structural equation model, the study examines the relationships between adolescents' negative emotions (e.g., peer stress, anxiety, loneliness), social intelligence, and pathological gaming to elucidate their associations.

Results

The results indicate that negative emotions can potentially reduce levels of social intelligence and increase aggression. Increased aggression, in turn, appears to be associated with higher levels of pathological gaming. Social intelligence was found to impact pathological gaming potentially negatively and may exert a significantly stronger influence on aggression compared to negative emotions.

Discussion

The study's findings suggest that bolstering adolescents' social aptitude and addressing mental health concerns could serve as beneficial interventions in tackling issues associated with excessive media engagement among youth. These findings suggest that, within the context of adolescent pathological gaming, social intelligence could significantly affect aggression and emerge as a key variable that may lead to pathological gaming.

Developmental trajectories and predictors of Internet gaming disorder across the university years: A person-centered five-wave cohort study

With a rapid rise in internet gaming, internet gaming disorder (IGD) has become a contemporary concern. However, little is known about the long-term dynamic changes in IGD over time. Using a person-centered five-wave longitudinal design, the current study explored the heterogeneous trajectories of IGD among 5787 students during their university years, and examined the role of protective and risk factors in differentiating distinct patterns of IGD. The growth mixture modeling revealed three distinct trajectories of IGD: stable-low pattern (n = 4575, 87.42 %), increasing pattern (n = 357, 6.80 %), and decreasing pattern (n = 302, 5.78 %). Additionally, the students with high self-control and self-compassion were more likely to be in the stable-low group instead of the other risk groups. Depressive symptoms and peer conflicts, as two time-varying variables, were significant risk predictors for IGD. These findings highlight the importance of identifying high-risk groups for IGD and providing them with personalized and effective mental health services to reduce their risk of developing IGD in the future.

The severity of addiction mediates loneliness and cortical volume in internet gaming disorder

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) subjects reported higher loneliness scores than healthy controls. However, the neural correlates underlying the association between loneliness and IGD remain unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between loneliness, online gaming addiction and brain structure. In the current study, structural MRI data were acquired from 84 IGD subjects and 103 matched recreational game users (RGUs). We assessed and compared their addiction severity, loneliness scores, and cortical volumes and analyzed the correlations among these values. Significant correlations were found between loneliness scores and brain volumes in the postcentral cortex, the medial orbitofrontal cortex, the rostral anterior cingulate cortex, and the temporal cortex. In addition, the addiction severity scores partly mediated the relationship between loneliness score and cortical volume in IGD. The results showed that participants with extreme loneliness had significant correlations with brain regions responsible for executive control, social threat surveillance and avoidance. More importantly, the severity of addiction mediates loneliness and cortical volume. The findings shed new insight into the neural mechanisms of loneliness and IGD and have implications for potential treatment.

Risk factors for Internet Gaming Disorder: Testing the contribution of metacognitions, stress, and coping

Engaging in online gaming is often considered as an avoidance strategy to cope with stress. This study aimed to test whether metacognitions make a unique contribution and which of them is/are the most salient to explaining Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) tendency after controlling for age, gender, and stress. We further explored the structure of relationships between these variables by testing a metacognitively mediated stress-IGD model. A convenience sample of 1255 Chinese young adults with gaming experience (age ranged from 18 to 27; 57.0% females) completed an anonymous online questionnaire in June 2021. Each metacognitions subscale was positively correlated with IGD tendency, whilst cognitive confidence and positive beliefs about worry were identified as the most salient dimensions among metacognitions for IGD tendency after controlling for demographics and stress. The mediation path model showed acceptable fit after implementing minor modifications. The bootstrapping results showed that the effect of stress on IGD tendency was fully mediated, with metacognitions and escape motivation as independent mediators. In the model, the paths from both positive metacognitions and uncontrollability/danger metacognitions to escape motivation (and in turn IGD) remained significant, whilst the path between cognitive confidence and IGD also remained significant. The findings suggest revisions to the stress-coping model consistent with self-regulatory executive function theory, and advance our understanding of the potential risk factors linking stress to problematic gaming. Enhancing individuals' capacity for metacognitive regulation may be an effective approach for future IGD preventive interventions among Chinese young gamers.

A new variation of modern prejudice: young Korean men's anti-feminism and male-victim ideology

In South Korea, anti-feminism is now rapidly spreading online among young men, who have started to identify themselves as a social minority or "victims" of female power. Despite its ramifications, theoretically, anti-feminism is indistinct from the racism and sexism of White men that emerged more than half a century ago. In view of this, it shares the same root as typical modern racism or sexism, although it appears to be a novel phenomenon. Such a hypothesis was buttressed by quantifying the attitudes of anti-feminists toward various outgroups based on the transference of prejudice theory. Moreover, the subtle sexist undertones hidden in their arguments have been discussed using various psychological theories and empirical data/statistics. Additionally, various potential factors that may shape or accelerate their attitudes or behaviors have been discussed on the basis of the threat-defense theory. Through comprehensive literature review based on this theory, this study proposes the features related to Korean anti-feminism, encompassing behavioral/situational (overindulging violent or degrading Internet contents, verbal aggression), relational/epistemic (ostracism, attachment insecurity, pseudo-rationalism), and group-level (provocative interactions, polarization) attributes, some of which may also influence groups other than young men and ingrain or exacerbate the extreme ideologies of other groups, including young women. Scrutinizing Korean online anti-feminism and male-victim ideology may improve our understanding of the psychological origins of various social extremities or radical ideologies beyond cultural barriers.

Longitudinal network relations between symptoms of problematic internet game use and internalizing and externalizing problems among Chinese early adolescents

OBJECTIVE

There has been growing evidence of comorbidity between problematic internet game use and internalizing and externalizing problems in young people. However, little is known about the directionality and gender differences in these longitudinal relations at the symptoms level in the framework of network theory among youth. This study estimated the longitudinal relations between the symptoms of problematic internet game use, internalizing and externalizing problems, and the gender differences of these relations in Chinese youth using cross-lagged panel network modeling (CLPN).

METHODS

A sample of 1269 Chinese youth (M age = 10.35 years) participated in this study semi-annually at two time points. CLPN analysis was used to calculate the network model of problematic internet game use and internalizing and externalizing problems to explore bridge symptoms and find transmission pathways between problematic internet game use and internalizing and externalizing problems.

RESULTS

The CLPN revealed significant gender differences. For boys, depressed mood, which leads to relationships turning sour in order to play online games, bridges the relations between internalizing symptoms and problematic internet game use. For girls, irritability is the central predictive symptom, causing a range of problems related to problematic internet game use, which can, in turn, lead to fights or feelings of worthlessness. However, the effect sizes for the pathways between problematic internet game use and internalizing/externalizing problems were relatively weak, and the comorbidity between their relations should not be over-interpreted.

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings provide new evidence for understanding the directional relationship between the central characteristics of problematic internet game use and internalizing and externalizing problems in boys and girls. Gender-specific interventions targeting the central symptoms of internalizing and externalizing problems and problematic internet game use can help mitigate the vicious cycle of comorbidity among adolescents.

What complex factors influence sleep quality in college students? PLS-SEM vs. fsQCA

Introduction

Sleep quality has a significant impact on the health-related quality of life, particularly among college students. This study proposes a framework for identifying factors that influence college students' sleep quality, including stress, self-control, bedtime habits, and neighborhood environment.

Methods

The study employed a cross-sectional analytical approach on a convenience sample of 255 medical students from a private university in China during the 2021/2022 academic year, of which 80.39% (205) were women. Two complementary methodologies, partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), and fuzzy sets qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), were utilized in the study.

Results

The results of the PLS-SEM analysis suggest that Stress and Self-control act as mediating variables in the model, with Bedtime habits and Neighborhood environment influencing sleep quality through these variables. Additionally, the fsQCA analysis reveals that Bedtime habits and Neighborhood environment can combine with Stress and Self-control, respectively, to influence sleep quality.

Discussion

These findings provide insight into how multiple factors, such as Stress, Self-control, Bedtime habits, and Neighborhood environment, can impact college students' sleep quality, and can be used to develop intervention programs aimed at improving it. Moreover, the use of both methodologies enables the expansion of new methodological approaches that can be applied to different contexts.

Increased adolescent game usage and health-related risk behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study examines adolescent game usage and corresponding health-related risk behaviors during a period of limited social interaction and activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included 225 middle- and 225 high-school students in Seoul who completed a survey online from October 1 to 30, 2021. The study measured participants' game usage level and the health-related risk behavior index. Findings showed that participants who engaged in excessive gaming showed higher levels of health-related risk behaviors. A multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to compare the health-related risk behaviors of students in the general, potential, and high-risk groups on excessive gaming. Results indicated that female students in the high-risk group showed higher stress levels and fatigue (f = 5.549, p < .01, Cohen's d = 0.016) than the males of the same group. However, male students showed higher physical inactivity levels (f = 3.195, p > .05, Cohen's d = 0.009) than females. The post hoc test indicated clear sex distinctions among the general, potential, and high-risk groups on excessive gaming (p < .001). Among the high-risk game usage group, female students displayed a higher level of risk behaviors than males. Adolescent gaming addiction should be considered an emotional and behavioral disorder for which parental guidance and support are needed, and counseling experts and professionals must come together to provide a cure and reform program.

Unique and interactive effects of parental neglect, school connectedness, and trait self-control on mobile short-form video dependence among Chinese left-behind adolescents

BACKGROUND

Mobile short-form video is becoming increasingly popular among Chinese adolescents. Mobile short-form video dependence has become a pressing issue in Chinese adolescents, especially in left-behind adolescents. Previous studies, however, have focused on general mobile phone dependence and neglected specific types of mobile phone dependence. Few studies have explored the environmental and individual predictors of mobile short-form video dependence.

OBJECTIVE

Based on theoretical and empirical evidence, the present study examined the unique and interactive effects of parental neglect, school connectedness, and trait self-control on mobile short-form video dependence among Chinese left-behind adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 618 left-behind adolescents between 11 and 15 years of age completed the anonymous self-report survey. The PROCESS macro for SPSS was applied for data analysis.

RESULTS

Parental neglect was positively associated with mobile short-form video dependence, whereas school connectedness and trait self-control were negatively associated with mobile short-form video dependence in left-behind adolescents. Examination of the two-way interactions indicated that school connectedness and trait self-control could buffer the association between parental neglect and left-behind adolescents' mobile short-form video dependence. However, self-control could not moderate the association between school connectedness and mobile short-form video dependence. In addition, the three-way interaction of parental neglect, school connectedness, and trait self-control showed a significant effect on mobile short-form video dependence. The moderating role of school connectedness was stronger for left-behind adolescents with low trait self-control than for those with high trait self-control, and the moderating role of trait self-control was stronger for left-behind adolescents with low school connectedness than for those with high school connectedness.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings contribute significantly to revealing the complex mechanisms of mobile short-form video dependence and providing comprehensive and specific practical suggestions for the prevention and intervention of mobile short-form video dependence among left-behind adolescents.

Mental Health of Parents and Their Children: A Longitudinal Study of the Effects of Parents' Negative Affect on Adolescents' Pathological Gaming

Parents' negative affect could lead to the deterioration of the mental state of their adolescent children. According to previous studies, children of parents who have symptoms of depression or anxiety are more likely to have mental problems. As one of the most important issues concerning adolescents with the rapid rise of screen time, the concern for pathological gaming among adolescents continues to intensify. Many studies have demonstrated the remarkable relationships between adolescents' pathological gaming and mental factors, but seldom examined them via longitudinal analysis. With three-year data from adolescents (N = 778) and their parents (N = 685) in South Korea, this study assessed the effects of parents' negative affect (depression and anxiety) on pathological gaming using adolescents' mental factors (i.e., aggression, ADHD, self-control). The results showed the critical role of parents' negative affect on their children's mental health, which finally leads to pathological gaming among adolescents. Depressive parents increased the degree of adolescents' aggression and ADHD, and decreased the degree of adolescents' self-control. Anxious parents increased the degree of adolescents' ADHD. Moreover, both adolescents' aggression and self-control mediated the relationship between parents' depression and adolescents' pathological gaming. Specifically, self-control was one of the most influential factors contributing to pathological gaming among adolescents.

ADHD-Gaming Disorder Comorbidity in Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological condition characterized by developmentally inadequate levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, and a neurobiological disruption in brain neurotransmitters and circuitry causing abnormal responses to rewards. Playing electronic games generates a biological response that activates the neuronal circuits linked to pleasure and reward, and there is a growing attention to this type of activity, which can also turn into a mental health condition. The existence and the boundaries between the functional and the dysfunctional are still a source of debate, with the recognition of 'Internet Gaming Disorder' (IGD) as a condition belonging to the broader area of addiction requiring more in-depth study with respect to the DSM-5, while 'Gaming Disorder' (GD) was officially recognized as a new diagnosis by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the updated revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Notwithstanding, the suggested criteria for the diagnosis of Gaming Disorder are still debated. Since ADHD has been reported as a risk factor for developing addictions, this narrative review aims to provide the current state-of-the art of the knowledge about the comorbidity between ADHD and Gaming Disorder. For this aim, a literature search was conducted using a combination of specific keywords and the results are discussed within the R-Do-C framework and dimensions, and implications for treatment are considered.

Eight Hypotheses on Technology Use and Psychosocial Wellbeing: A Bicultural Phenomenological Study of Gaming during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this nonconfirmatory qualitative study, we pursued a range of hypotheses regarding how gaming operates in the lives and psychosocial wellbeing of those who actively play videogames during a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Informed by an explorative survey (N = 793), interpretive phenomenological analysis was applied to interview data from actively gaming Chinese (n = 10) and Finnish (n = 10) participants. Our findings demonstrate how the general increase of pandemic-time gaming did not manifest in all player groups, but in some life contexts gaming activity rather decreased along with reformations in subjective meaning hierarchies and values. Ultimately, eight subordinate themes were refined into testable hypotheses. The study encourages policies that promote socially supportive gaming during pandemic-like situations to consider including personally meaningful solitary play in their recommendations and highlighting context-specificity over generalization. Finally, as almost all our data points echoing experiences of decreasing gaming activity came from China, we stress the importance of culturally diverse samples in the psychological study of global phenomena.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03586-x.

Directing Technology Addiction Research in Information Systems

In this second part of a series of articles to direct technology addiction research in the information systems discipline, we discuss the history, conceptualization, and measurement of technology addiction. We admit that it is possible to label the phenomenon as overuse or excessive use as long as it is defined and measured by the presence and the magnitude of the six core symptoms of behavioral addictions: salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse. The advantage of this terminology is that it does not attribute one's problems to helplessness and does not pathologize the behavior, implying that it may possibly be corrected. Nevertheless, we posit that the term technology addiction is currently the most reasonable choice that may need to be adjusted as we learn more about this phenomenon and its potential similarities to and differences from established behavioral addictions. Dependence, obsessive/compulsive use, and pathological/problem use terms should not be used as synonyms for technology addiction as a form of mental disorder. Researchers should not include the name of the IT artifact as the subject of addiction (e.g., "Facebook addiction"). Instead, they should focus on the activity that is mediated through the IT artifact (e.g., "addiction to Facebook use").

Stressful life events and problematic internet use in adolescence: Mediation of psychological capital and moderation of school level

INTRODUCTION

While abundant cross-sectional studies have examined the relationship between stress and problematic internet use (PIU), little is known about the underlying mechanism through which stress influences the development of PIU. To elucidate the mechanism in facilitation of prevention and treatment of PIU, this study tested a moderated mediation model using a longitudinal design in which the impact of stressful life events on PIU was mediated by psychological capital (PsyCap); the dependence of this mediation link on participants' developmental stage was further evaluated.

METHODS

A total of 1365 middle school and high school adolescents (M_age  = 14.68, SD = 1.56; 47% female) from central China were surveyed over 3 years.

RESULTS

PsyCap was found to completely mediate the contribution of stressful life events to PIU. In addition, the relationship between stressful life events and PsyCap was moderated by participants' school level, in which the negative impact of stress on PsyCap was stronger in middle schoolers than in high schoolers.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support further examination of PsyCap in adolescents' PIU development, with a special focus on developmental changes from middle school to high school.

Maladaptive cognitions, loneliness, and social anxiety as potential moderators of the association between Internet gaming time and Internet gaming disorder among adolescent Internet gamers in China

The significance of Internet gaming time's dosage effect on Internet gaming disorder (IGD) may depend on gamers' characteristics. Majority of the gamers with extensive gaming time do not develop IGD. This study investigated moderation effects of cognitive/psychosocial factors on the association between Internet gaming time and probable IGD among adolescent Internet gamers in China. The cross-sectional, self-administered, and anonymous survey was conducted from October to December of 2018 among seven conveniently selected secondary school students in Chengdu and Guangzhou, China. Probable IGD was measured by using the DSM-5 checklist. The cognitive/psychosocial moderators were assessed by using validated instruments. Of the 2,503 students who had played Internet games (past 12 months), the prevalence of probable IGD was 17.7%. Internet gaming time [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 1.06], the three maladaptive cognitions specific to Internet gaming (perceived overvaluation of rewards, perceived urges, and perceived unwillingness to stop playing) (ORa = 1.17 to 1.44), and the two types of psychosocial factors (loneliness and social anxiety) (ORa = 1.09 to 1.13) were independent risk factors of probable IGD. Moderation analyses showed that overall maladaptive cognitions, perceived urges, and loneliness (but not the other two types of cognitions and social anxiety) were significant moderators of the association between Internet gaming time and probable IGD. The dose-effect relationship of Internet gaming time on probable IGD was significantly and slightly stronger among those with higher levels of perceived urges and loneliness. Interventions to reduce the levels of such moderators may reduce probable IGD directly and buffer the dosage effect among adolescents.

Relationships Between Job Stress, Psychological Adaptation and Internet Gaming Disorder Among Migrant Factory Workers in China: The Mediation Role of Negative Affective States

Factory workers make up a large proportion of China's internal migrants and may be highly susceptible to job and adaptation stress, negative affective states (e.g., depression and anxiety), and Internet gaming disorder (IGD). This cross-sectional study investigated the relationships between job stress, psychological adaptation, negative affective states and IGD among 1,805 factory workers recruited by stratified multi-stage sampling between October and December 2019. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to test the proposed mediation model. Among the participants, 67.3% were male and 71.7% were aged 35 years old or below. The prevalence of probable depression, probable anxiety, and IGD was 39.3, 28.7, and 7.5%. Being male, younger age, and shorter duration of living in Shenzhen were associated with higher IGD scores. Job stress was significantly associated with IGD (β = 0.11, p = 0.01) but not with negative affective states (β = 0.01, p = 0.77). Psychological adaptation was significantly associated with negative affective states (β = -0.37, p < 0.001) but not with IGD (β = 0.09, p > 0.05). Negative affective states were positively associated with IGD (β = 0.27, p < 0.001). The indirect effect of psychological adaptation (β = -0.10, p = 0.004) but not job stress (β = 0.003, p = 0.77) on IGD through negative affective states was statistically significant. The observed psychological correlates and mechanisms are modifiable, and can inform the design of evidence-based prevention programs for depression, anxiety, and IGD in this population.

Pathological gaming: a longitudinal study from the perspectives of mental health problems and social stress model

Debates about pathological gaming continues in the wake of the World Health Organization's (WHO) decision to establish a gaming disorder diagnosis. Questions persist whether gaming disorder is best conceived as a stand-alone psychiatric disorder, or whether it heralds or accompanies other, more established conditions, such as depression or ADHD. We tested these hypotheses in a sample of 3,034 youth from Singapore. Evidence suggests that pathological gaming is a somewhat unstable construct, often remitting spontaneously. Youth with preexisting ADHD or depression were more likely to develop later pathological gaming problems, while the inverse was not true, with neither early pathological gaming nor gaming time predictive of later mental health problems. Results suggest that, whenever there is any need to conduct robust evidence-based studies, more evidence should be collected before new disorders are recognized by means of "expert consensus".

Prospective Association Between Online Game Use and Risk of Internet Gaming Disorder in Korea: 12-Month Follow-up Results From the iCURE Study

Children and adolescents' Internet game use has both functional and dysfunctional aspects. This study aimed to examine how changes in online gaming behaviors impact the risk of Internet gaming disorder (IGD). We observed 1318 adolescent online game users. Baseline and 12-month follow-up evaluations were performed, and it was defined whether the average online gaming time per day exceeded 1.5 hours and whether the number of gaming days per week exceeded 4 days. Gaming disorder was defined using the Internet Game Use-Elicited Symptom Screen. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the difference in the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of IGD risk according to changes in gaming time or frequency. Results indicated the IRR of IGD risk was 2.54 (P = .007) for the increased time spent group and 2.38 (P = .015) for the consistent higher time spent group against the consistent lower time spent group. The IRR was 3.76 (P = .007) for the increased frequency group and 2.92 (P = .029) for the consistent higher frequency group against the consistent lower frequency group. Therefore, managing Internet game use not to exceed 1.5 hours per day on average and 4 days per week would help prevent elevation of IGD risk.

The relationship between problematic Internet use in adolescents and emotion regulation difficulty and family Internet attitude

The study aims to determine the relationship between problematic Internet use in adolescents and emotion regulation difficulty and family Internet attitude. The study used a descriptive and correlational design. The sample of the study consisted of 5916 students. The data were collected using the "Problematic Internet Use Scale," "Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale," "Internet Parental Style Scale." The total score on the Problematic Internet Use Scale was 55.41 ± 19.60 while the total score on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale was 97.51 ± 17.84. Considering the Internet parental styles, it was found that 42.89% of the parents had a negligent attitude. According to the results of the logistic regression analysis performed, grade level was found to affect problematic Internet use. A highly significant correlation was found between problematic Internet use and emotional regulation difficulties and family control of family Internet attitude (p < 0.01). This study determined that adolescents' grade level and excessive Internet use of the father were effective in the problematic Internet use of the adolescents. Adolescents' difficulties in emotion regulation and the type of families' attitudes towards Internet use were associated with problematic Internet use. In accordance with these results, it can be recommended to form programs to decrease problematic Internet use.

Prevalence of gaming disorder: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Gaming disorder (GD) has been listed in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision. Studies on GD prevalence have been highly heterogeneous, and there are significant gaps in prevalence estimates. Few studies have examined what methodological and demographic factors could explain this phenomenon. Therefore, this meta-analytic study quantifies globally reported GD prevalence rates and explores their various moderating variables.

METHODS

Prevalence estimates were extracted from 61 studies conducted before December 3, 2020, which included 227,665 participants across 29 countries. Subgroup and moderator analyses were used to investigate the potential causes of heterogeneity, including region, sample size, year of data collection, age group, study design, sampling method, survey format, sample type, risk of bias, terminology, assessment tool, and male proportion.

RESULTS

The overall pooled prevalence of GD was 3.3% (95% confidence interval: 2.6-4.0) (8.5% in males and 3.5% in females). By selecting only 28 representative sample studies, the prevalence estimate was reduced to 2.4% (95% CI 1.7-3.2), and the adjusted prevalence estimate using the trim-and-fill method was 1.4% (95% CI 0.9-1.9). High heterogeneity in GD prevalence rates was influenced by various moderators, such as participant variables (e.g., region, sample size, and age) and study methodology (e.g., study design, sampling method, sample type, terminology, and instrument). The moderator analyses revealed that the sample size, mean age, and study quality were negatively associated with GD prevalence.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that GD prevalence studies were highly heterogeneous based on participant demographics and research methodologies. Various confounding variables, such as sampling methods, sample types, assessment tools, age, region, and cultural factors have significantly influenced the GD prevalence rates. Prevalence estimates are likely to vary depending on study quality. Further epidemiological studies should be conducted using rigorous methodological standards to more accurately estimate GD prevalence.

The impacts of academic stress on college students' problematic smartphone use and Internet gaming disorder under the background of neijuan: Hierarchical regressions with mediational analysis on escape and coping motives

With sluggish economic growth in the post-pandemic era, the phenomenon "neijuan" becomes increasingly severe in many Asian countries like China. Neijuan refers to a hypercompetitive social environment wherein individuals involuntarily get involved in inhumane work or study hours, resulting in a considerable amount of tension and stress. Previous pathology research has shown that stress can trigger the overuse of Internet-based devices and services, which can subsequently lead to problematic smartphone use (PSU) and Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Provided college students are generally deemed one of the groups most susceptible to neijuan, limited attention has been given to the stimuli and the resultant psychological and behavioral ill-beings. Our study examined the impacts of academic stress on Chinese college students' PSU and IGD problems, with the inclusion of escape and coping motives as mediators. Based upon the results of hierarchical regressions and path analysis, we found that whereas academic stress increased IGD tendency mediated through escape and coping motives, excessive use of smartphone might have developed into a habitual behavior rather than effective escape and coping instruments. Demographic and academic characteristics, such as gender and whether studying at a prestigious institution, also exerted influences on college students' IGD intensity.

A multidimensional construct of helicopter parenting and college students' game and social media addictive behaviors: A cross-cultural study in South Korea and China

Introduction

We explored latent classes of helicopter parenting among Korean and Chinese college students. In addition, we examined whether these latent classes of helicopter parenting are related to Korean and Chinese students' game and social media addictive behaviors.

Methods

A three-step latent class analysis was conducted using 452 students from six universities in South Korea and 372 students from four universities in China.

Results and discussion

We identified four distinct helicopter parenting latent classes among the parents of Korean and Chinese students: weak, strong, academic management, and academic and schedule management. We also found that Korean students in the strong class reported significantly higher levels of game and social media addictive behaviors than those in the other three classes, but this did not hold for Chinese students. This finding indicates that the association between helicopter parenting and college students' game and social media addictive behaviors can be differentiated within Asian cultural contexts.

How COVID-19 stress related to schooling and online learning affects adolescent depression and Internet gaming disorder: Testing Conservation of Resources theory with sex difference

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a grim challenge to adolescents' daily life, including schooling and learning, which has great impacts on their mental and behavioral health. This study aimed to test the roles of stress related to schooling and online learning during COVID-19 (COVID-19 stress) in depression and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) among adolescents and the potential mediators of social support, academic stress, and maladaptive emotion regulation based on the framework of Conservation of Resources theory. Sex differences in these associations were further examined.

METHODS

A school-based survey was conducted among Chinese adolescents in 13 secondary schools in Hong Kong (n = 3,136) from September to November 2020 (48.1% males; mean age = 13.6 years old) using stratified random sampling.

RESULTS

The prevalence of probable depression and IGD was 60% and 15%, respectively. Results of structural equation modeling indicated that the proposed model fit the data well (χ2/df = 7.77, CFI = 0.92, IFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.05). COVID-19 stress was positively and indirectly associated with both depression and IGD through social support, academic stress, and maladaptive emotion regulation. Multi-group analyses identified that the associations between COVID-19 stress and academic stress, between academic stress and depression, and between social support and depression were stronger among females compared to males.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the roles of academic stress, poor social support, maladaptive emotion regulation, and sex to understand how disruption and stress caused by COVID-19 increases adolescent depression and IGD. Psychosocial interventions based on these factors are highly warranted.

Impact of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder comorbidity on longitudinal course in Internet gaming disorder: a 3-year clinical cohort study

BACKGROUND

Although attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were identified as a key risk factor for Internet gaming disorder (IGD), the effect of ADHD comorbidity on longitudinal course of IGD in the clinical population remains to be further examined. This study aimed to investigate whether ADHD comorbidity in IGD patients affects the recovery, recurrence rates, and trajectories of IGD symptoms, and examine the relationship between the changes in IGD and ADHD symptoms.

METHODS

The study included 128 IGD patients without any psychiatric comorbidities (pure-IGD group) and 127 IGD patients with comorbid ADHD (ADHD-IGD group) aged 11 to 42 years. IGD and ADHD were diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria at enrollment. Participants were offered 8-week treatment with additional care provided as needed and followed up over a 3-year period. IGD diagnosis was reassessed annually and used as a dichotomous outcome. The severity of IGD and ADHD symptoms was measured using the Young Internet Addiction Scale and the Korean ADHD rating scale, respectively, at baseline and each annual follow-up.

RESULTS

The recovery rates of IGD by Year 3 were 60% and 93% in ADHD-IGD and in pure-IGD groups, respectively. The ADHD-IGD group showed lower rates of recovery, higher odds of recurrence within 1 year, and higher severity of IGD symptoms over time than the pure-IGD group. Family environment was also associated with the trajectories of IGD symptoms. The changes in ADHD symptoms were significantly associated with the changes in IGD symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that ADHD comorbidity in IGD patients was associated with poor clinical course of IGD and that the changes in ADHD symptoms were associated with the changes in IGD symptoms over time. Our findings suggest that evaluation and treatment of ADHD symptoms and family environment in IGD patients may be important in improving the prognosis of IGD.

Longitudinal predictors for incidence of internet gaming disorder among adolescents: The roles of time spent on gaming and depressive symptoms

INTRODUCTION

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) was popular among adolescents worldwide, but whether some associated factors could contribute to the development of IGD was unclear. This longitudinal study explored the temporal stability of IGD over one year and determined the predictors for IGD incidence.

METHODS

Participants were 1121 adolescents from six junior high schools in Shanghai, China (50.6% males; median age = 13.0 years). The baseline and follow-up questionnaire survey measured IGD, time spent on gaming, depressive symptoms, insomnia condition, substance use and background variables from 7th to 8th grade. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to test the associations between other factors and IGD incidence.

RESULTS

IGD incidence was 7.7% at one-year follow-up. Gender, family financial condition, parental educational level, time spent on gaming, insomnia condition and depressive symptoms were associated with IGD incidence in univariate analysis, whereas only gender, family financial condition, time spent on gaming and depressive symptoms were associated with IGD incidence in multivariate logistic regression.

CONCLUSIONS

IGD might persist for years during adolescence. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, time spent on gaming and depressive symptoms were independent predictors for IGD incidence.

Relationship between Emotional Intelligence, Educational Achievement and Academic Stress of Pre-Service Teachers

Emotional intelligence (EI) and stress are constructs that often characterize the teaching profession and are inversely related. There is evidence in the literature that suggests the importance of teachers working on EI in order to learn coping strategies and improve their teaching practices. This descriptive and correlational study had the purpose of examining the social-emotional profile of future teachers based on their EI and academic stress levels in order to provide guidance for future stressful situations that will affect their future professional development. For this purpose, we used a random sampling for convenience in a university population enrolled in degrees of education at Andalusian universities (Spain), getting a sample of 1020 pre-service teachers. The results pointed to a superiority in EI, academic stress, and academic achievement in favor of females compared to males. The relationship among EI, academic stress, and student teachers' achievement was demonstrated. Furthermore, some components of EI were positioned as important factors to improve student achievement and reduce academic stress. Once the high incidence of these constructs on academic achievement was confirmed, the importance of developing EI and coping and stress skills training programs, aimed at improving academic success and their subsequent professional development, was demonstrated.

The Pros and Cons of Online Competitive Gaming: An Evidence-Based Approach to Assessing Young Players' Well-Being

This research addresses a lack of evidence on the positive and negative health outcomes of competitive online gaming and esports, particularly among young people and adolescents. Well-being outcomes, along with mitigation strategies were measured through a cross sectional survey of Australian gamers and non-gamers aged between 12 and 24 years, and parents of the 12–17-year-olds surveyed. Adverse health consequences were associated with heavy gaming, more so than light/casual gaming, suggesting that interventions that target moderated engagement could be effective. It provides timely insights in an online gaming landscape that has rapidly evolved over the past decade, and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, to include the hyper-connected, highly commercialized and rapidly growing online gaming and esports sector.

Exploring the Influence of Parenting Style on Adolescents’ Maladaptive Game Use through Aggression and Self-Control

Adolescent aggression manifests in problematic game use and ultimately undermines life quality. This study deals with the mechanisms behind adolescents’ perception of parenting, maladaptive game use, self-control, and life satisfaction within the context of integrated supportive-positive parenting and harsh-negative parenting. Using 778 valid panel data from the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), we reached the conclusions that both supportive-positive parenting and harsh-negative parenting, mediated by self-control and maladaptive game use, are major predictors of adolescents’ life satisfaction. PLS-SEM analysis was used for the hypothesized model test. This study helped bridge the gap in existing research by finding clues to recovering parent–child relationships from the side effects of youth game use.

Gaming Disorder: How to Translate Behavioral Neuroscience Into Public Health Advances

Purpose of Review

Gaming disorder (GD), meanwhile classified as a mental disorder in both DSM-5 and ICD-11, is a current public health issue. Theoretical models assume core psychological processes, such as cue reactivity, craving, reward processing, decision-making, cognitive biases, inhibitory control, and stress relief, to be crucially involved in the development and maintenance of GD. This review summarizes neuroscientific findings on these processes in the context of GD as well as treatments and intervention programs addressing these processes.

Recent Findings

We identified overlaps regarding the involvement of neural structures and networks related to psychological processes which may be targeted by public health programs. Complex interactions between executive control, salience, reward, and habit networks are crucially linked to processes involved in GD and public health programs respectively.

Summary

We point at the difficulties of making one to one assignments of neural networks to psychological processes or interventions. Furthermore, new treatment and prevention programs of GD are discussed pointing at possible future directions for neuroscientific research and treatment programs for GD.

Comparison of Behavioral Changes and Brain Activity between Adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder and Student Pro-Gamers

While pro-gamers play according to defined living habits and planned schedules, adolescents with internet gaming disorder (IGD) exhibit irregular lifestyles and unregulated impulsive gaming behavior. Fourteen IGD adolescents and 12 pro-gaming students participated in this study. At baseline and after one year, demographic data, the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL), depressed mood, anxiety, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were assessed. Over the year, IGD adolescents played games as per their usual schedule, while pro-gamer students played according to their school’s team schedule. After one year, the pro-gamers’ scores had decreased in the CBCL-total (total problematic behaviors), CBCL-externalizing (under-controlled behavior, like impulsivity and aggression), and CBCL-internalizing (over-controlled behavior like depression and anxiety) compared to those of the IGD adolescents. Both groups displayed increased brain activity in the parietal lobe (a component of the attention network) over the years. Compared to pro-gamers, IGD adolescents showed higher brain activity within the left orbitofrontal cortex. Brain activity within the orbitofrontal cortex was associated with CBCL-externalizing scores. These results suggest that gaming had increased the attention network’s brain activity, but a well-organized support system could lead to different results, in terms of improved behaviors and suppressing brain activity within the orbitofrontal cortex.