The psychometric properties of the Chinese version internet gaming disorder scale

White matter integrity of right frontostriatal circuit predicts internet addiction severity among internet gamers

Excessive use of the internet, which is a typical scenario of self-control failure, could lead to potential consequences such as anxiety, depression, and diminished academic performance. However, the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the structural basis of self-control and internet addiction. In a cohort of 96 internet gamers, we examined the relationships among grey matter volume and white matter integrity within the frontostriatal circuits and internet addiction severity, as well as self-control measures. The results showed a significant and negative correlation between dACC grey matter volume and internet addiction severity (p < 0.001), but not with self-control. Subsequent tractography from the dACC to the bilateral ventral striatum (VS) was conducted. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity of dACC-right VS pathway was negatively (p = 0.011) and positively (p = 0.020) correlated with internet addiction severity, respectively, and the FA was also positively correlated with self-control (p = 0.036). These associations were not observed for the dACC-left VS pathway. Further mediation analysis demonstrated a significant complete mediation effect of self-control on the relationship between FA of the dACC-right VS pathway and internet addiction severity. Our findings suggest that the dACC-right VS pathway is a critical neural substrate for both internet addiction and self-control. Deficits in this pathway may lead to impaired self-regulation over internet usage, exacerbating the severity of internet addiction.

Brain structural alterations in internet gaming disorder: Focus on the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system

AIMS

This study aimed to identify gray/white matter volume (GMV/WMV) alterations in Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), with a special focus on the subregions of the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system and their clinical association.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, IGDs showed bigger GMV in the bilateral caudate and the left nucleus accumbens (NAc), and bigger WMV in the inferior parietal lobule. The comparison of regions of interest (ROI) confirmed increased GMV in the bilateral caudate (including the dorsal anterior, body, and tail) and the left core of NAc in IGD, but no significant WMV alterations in the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system. GMVs in the left lateral orbital gyrus of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) were associated with craving for games, while GMVs in the left anterior insula, right NAc, right caudate, and right OFC were associated with self-control in IGD.

CONCLUSIONS

IGD was accompanied by changed GMV, but not WMV, in the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system. GMV in the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system may contribute to impaired self-control and craving in IGD.

Factor structure and psychometric properties of an Arabic version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, short form (IGDS-SF9)

Background

In its most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the American Psychological Association recognized that internet gaming disorder is a psychological condition and provides nine criteria for its diagnosis, and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, short form (IGDS-SF9) was developed to assess individuals.

Aim

To develop and investigate the psychometric properties of an Arabic version of IGDS-SF9.

Method

A five-stage translation and verification process produced an Arabic version of IGDS-SF9, and a study was conducted using a sample of 410 respondents (45.6% females, mean age = 17.6, SD = 1.56) to assess its psychometric properties. Respondents completed the Arabic version, the Smartphone Addiction Scale, the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, as well as a demographic survey. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, measurement invariance, item response theory, convergent, concurrent, criterion validity, and internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were employed to validate the scale.

Results

The exploratory factor analysis suggested the scale's unidimensional structure; the confirmatory factor analysis exhibited good model fit and factor loadings. Measurement invariance, and concurrent, convergent, and criterion validity were established, resulting in good internal consistency and test-retest reliability for the scale.

Conclusion

The Arabic version of IGDS-SF9 is a valid and reliable measure for research and diagnosis in Arabic-speaking countries.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Internet Gaming Disorder Under the COVID-19 Pandemic Among University Students in Macao

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the zero-tolerance policy implemented in Macao affected university students' life and learning styles.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of internet gaming disorder (IGD) and analyze its risk factors among university students of Macao amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Two hundred and twenty-nine university students were recruited by convenience sampling. The cross-sectional investigation was conducted using the 9-item Chinese version of the IGD Scale, the Chinese Version of the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Chinese version of the Brief Resilience Scale.

Results

The prevalence was 7.4%. Compared to Non-IGD gamers, the IGD gamers were more likely to be the older, male gender, with a longer gaming history, with more game hours per day in the last month, and with a lower self-compassion score and resilience.

Conclusion

The prevalence of IGD increased. Students who are the older, male gender, with more gaming time, low self-compassion, and low resilience, have a high possibility of IGD.

The trajectories and associations of insomnia symptoms with addictive behaviours in adolescents: A two-year longitudinal study

Insomnia displays heterogeneous trajectories across adolescence, which may induce addictive behaviours, including internet gaming disorder and substance use. This study aimed to investigate the latent trajectory classes of insomnia symptoms over 2 years and to examine the associations between insomnia trajectories and these addictive behaviours. Participants were 910 adolescents from six middle schools in Shanghai, China (52.7% males; mean age = 13.17 years). The three-wave survey measured insomnia symptoms, internet gaming disorder, substance use, depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics from 7th to 9th grade. Latent class growth modelling was performed to identify the latent trajectory classes of insomnia symptoms. Then multivariable logistic regressions were conducted within the best-fitting latent class growth model to examine the associations of insomnia trajectories with internet gaming disorder and substance use. Two latent trajectory classes of insomnia symptoms were recognised: the non-insomnia group (71.8%) and the insomnia group (28.2%). In the multivariable analysis controlling for baseline demographic variables and depressive symptoms, the insomnia group had a higher risk of developing internet gaming disorder (OR = 2.203 [95% CI: 1.258-3.858]) and substance use (OR = 2.215 [95% CI: 1.324-3.705]) compared with the non-insomnia group. These findings add to a growing body of research on heterogeneous trajectories of insomnia symptoms during adolescence, suggesting that intervention strategies are needed to target the characteristics or developmental patterns of different insomnia subgroups. The ultimate goal is to mitigate the impact of insomnia symptoms on adolescent addictive behaviours.

Blunted reward prediction error signals in internet gaming disorder

BACKGROUND

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a type of behavioural addictions. One of the key features of addiction is the excessive exposure to addictive objectives (e.g. drugs) reduces the sensitivity of the brain reward system to daily rewards (e.g. money). This is thought to be mediated via the signals expressed as dopaminergic reward prediction error (RPE). Emerging evidence highlights blunted RPE signals in drug addictions. However, no study has examined whether IGD also involves alterations in RPE signals that are observed in other types of addictions.

METHODS

To fill this gap, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 45 IGD and 42 healthy controls (HCs) during a reward-related prediction-error task and utilised a psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis to characterise the underlying neural correlates of RPE and related functional connectivity.

RESULTS

Relative to HCs, IGD individuals showed impaired reinforcement learning, blunted RPE signals in multiple regions of the brain reward system, including the right caudate, left orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Moreover, the PPI analysis revealed a pattern of hyperconnectivity between the right caudate, right putamen, bilateral DLPFC, and right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) in the IGD group. Finally, linear regression suggested that the connection between the right DLPFC and right dACC could significantly predict the variation of RPE signals in the left OFC.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight disrupted RPE signalling and hyperconnectivity between regions of the brain reward system in IGD. Reinforcement learning deficits may be crucial underlying characteristics of IGD pathophysiology.

Exploring Internet gaming disorder: an updated perspective of empirical evidence (from 2016 to 2021)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Since the acceptance of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a "disorder due to addictive behaviors", research has proliferated exponentially. The present review focuses on the conceptualization of IGD, its diagnosis and assessment, associated factors and existing prevention and treatment plans to address it.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The discrepancies between the diagnostic criteria for IGD proposed by the two central diagnostic entities, as well as the questioning of their clinical validity, have generated multiple proposals for the diagnosis and psychometric evaluation of IGD. Likewise, there have been numerous suggestions to prevent this pathology, with the involvement of governments, the gaming industry and health institutions. Finally, multiple treatment plans have been proposed, both pharmacological and psychological, although only the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy has been tested. It is essential, therefore, to delve deeper into this disorder by addressing the central limitations of the current literature.

The Nine-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS9-SF): Its Psychometric Properties among Sri Lankan Students and Measurement Invariance across Sri Lanka, Turkey, Australia, and the USA

The prevalence of internet gaming disorders (IGD) is considerably high among youth, especially with the social isolation imposed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. IGD adversely affects mental health, quality of life, and academic performance. The Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS9-SF) is designed to detect IGD according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. However, inconsistent results are reported on its capacity to diagnose IGD evenly across different cultures. To ensure the suitability of the IGDS9-SF as a global measure of IGD, this study examined the psychometric properties of the IGDS9-SF in a sample of Sri Lankan university students (N = 322, mean age = 17.2 ± 0.6, range = 16–18 years, 56.5% males) and evaluated its measurement invariance across samples from Sri Lanka, Turkey, Australia, and the USA. Among Sri Lankan students, a unidimensional structure expressed good fit, invariance across different groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, and income), adequate criterion validity (strong correlation with motives of internet gaming, daily gaming duration, and sleep quality), and good reliability (alpha = 0.81). Males and online multiplayers expressed higher IGD levels, greater time spent gaming, and more endorsement of gaming motives (e.g., Social and Coping) than females and offline players. Across countries, the IGDS9-SF was invariant at the configural, metric, and scalar levels, although strict invariance was not maintained. The lowest and highest IGD levels were reported among Turkish and American respondents, respectively. In conclusion, the IGDS9-SF can be reliably used to measure IGD among Sri Lankan youth. Because the scale holds scalar invariance across countries, its scores can be used to compare IGD levels in the studied countries.

The reliability and validity of a screening scale for online gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents and young adults

BACKGROUND

In recent years, there have been frequent reports of gaming disorder in China, with more focus on young people. We developed and psychometrically tested a Gaming Disorder screening scale (i.e., Gaming Disorder Screening Scale - GDSS) for Chinese adolescents and young adults, based on the existing scales and diagnostic criteria, but also considering the development status of China.

METHODS

For testing content and criterion validity, 1747 participants competed the GDSS and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). After 15 days, 400 participants were retested with the scales for to assess test-retest reliability. Besides, 200 game players were interviewed for a diagnosis of gaming disorder.

RESULTS

The Cronbach's alpha coefficient on the GDSS was 0.93. The test-retest coefficient of 0.79. Principal components analysis identified three factors accounting for 62.4% of the variance; behavior, functioning, cognition and emotion. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a good model fit to the data (χ² /df = 5.581; RMSEA =0.074; TLI = 0.916, CFI = 0.928). The overall model fit was significantly good in the measurement invariance tested across genders and different age groups. Based on the clinical interview, the screening cut-off point was determined to be ≥47 (sensitivity 41.4%, specificity 82.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

The GDSS demonstrated good reliability and validity aspects for screening online gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents and young adults.

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.

The link between problematic internet use, problematic gaming, and psychological distress: does sleep quality matter?

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of sleep quality in the association of problematic internet use (PIU) and problematic gaming with psychological distress among college students in China.

METHODS

Data of 1040 full-time students from multiple colleges in China were examined. Respondents were asked about their internet use and gaming behaviors, sleep quality, psychological distress, and sociodemographic characteristics. The mediating role of sleep quality in the PIU- and problematic gaming-psychological distress link was examined respectively.

RESULTS

PIU was associated with decreased sleep quality (r = .32, p < .001) and increased psychological distress (r = .46, p < .001). Problematic gaming was also associated with decreased sleep quality (r = .22, p < .001) and increased psychological distress (r = .46, p < .001). Sleep quality accounted for 23.5% of the indirect effect of PIU on psychological distress, and 17.9% of the indirect effect of problematic gaming on psychological distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep quality had a meaningful mediating effect on the PIU-psychological distress link, but only exerted a small mediating effect on the problematic gaming-psychological distress link. In addition to promoting healthy internet usage, strategies aimed at mitigating the negative effect of excessive internet use on psychological health might benefit from those aimed at improving sleep quality.