Is Sensation Seeking a correlate of excessive behaviors and behavioral addictions? A detailed examination of patients with Gambling Disorder and Internet Addiction

Understanding the Emergence of Comorbidity between Problematic Online Gaming and Gambling: A Network Analysis Approach

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Problematic online gaming and gambling tend to co-occur. The exact mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and the potential effects of gender differences remain unknown. This study aimed to identify the early clustering patterns of problematic online gaming and gambling in a community sample of young adults without a lifetime history of psychiatric treatment.

METHODS

Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using partial correlations and Bayesian networks.

RESULTS

Altogether, 1441 individuals (aged 18-40 years, 51.4% females) participated in the survey. Both problematic online behaviors were weakly interrelated, suggesting that they serve as distinct constructs. Men's networks appeared to be more complex and had significantly higher global connectivity. Moreover, men and women differed with respect to the specific nodes that bridged both constructs. In men, the bridge nodes were "being criticized because of betting or being told about gambling problems", "loss of previous interests due to gaming", "deceiving other people because of gaming", and "health consequences of gambling". Among women, the bridge nodes were "feeling guilty because of gambling", "loss of previous interests because of gaming", "social consequences of gaming", and "continued gaming problems with other people". In men, the strongest edge was found between "borrowing money/selling anything to gamble" and "financial problems because of gambling", while in women, the strongest edge appeared between "betting more than afforded to be lost" and "tolerance symptoms of gambling".

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that problematic online gaming and gambling tend to emerge in different ways among men and women. Therapeutic interventions should be planned considering gender differences.

The neurocognitive correlates of non-substance addictive behaviors

Neurocognitive deficits have been implicated as transdiagnostic risk markers of substance use disorders. However, these have yet to be comprehensively evaluated in other, non-substance addictions. In a large, general community sample (N = 475) the present study evaluated the neurocognitive correlates of problem alcohol use and three non-substance-related addictive behaviors: addictive eating (AE), problematic pornography use (PPU), and problematic use of the internet (PUI), to identify potential shared and distinct neurocognitive correlates. A sample of Australian residents (54.4 % female M[SD] age = 32.4[11.9] years) completed a comprehensive online assessment of neurocognitive tasks tapping into eight distinct expert-endorsed domains purportedly associated with addiction. Multiple linear regressions with bootstrapping were used to examine associations among each addictive behavior of interest and neurocognition, trait impulsivity, and compulsivity, as well as key covariates. Neurocognition was differentially associated with each addictive behavior. None of the neurocognitive domains were significantly associated with problematic alcohol use or AE (p >.05), poorer performance monitoring was significantly associated with higher levels of PPU and PUI (β = -0.10, p =.049; β = -0.09, p =.028), and a preference for delayed gratification was associated with more severe PUI (β = -0.10, p =.025). Our findings have theoretical implications for how we understand non-substance addiction and suggest the need for a more nuanced approach to studying addictive behaviors that take into account the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms associated with each type of addiction.

The association between level of personality organization and problematic gaming: Anxiety, depression, and motivations for playing as mediators

Problematic gaming is a topic of great clinical and social relevance, so it is particularly important to identify its protective and risk factors. Literature already showed that maladaptive personality favors problematic gaming. In the light of Kernberg's model of personality organization, the present cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the mediational process through which low level of personality organization associates with problematic gaming, exploring the role of depressive and anxious symptoms and of motivations for playing. A sample of 1036 video gamers filled in an online survey regarding: level of personality organization; depressive and anxious symptoms; socializing, achievement, and immersion motivations for playing; problematic gaming. The path analysis showed that lower level of personality organization associated with greater problematic gaming and that depressive (but not anxious) symptoms, and socializing and achievement (but not immersion) motivations positively mediated this relationship. Furthermore, results showed that psychopathological symptoms and achievement motivations sequentially mediated the relationship between low level of personality organization and problematic gaming, highlighting that depressive symptoms secondary to a low level of personality organization could lead to a risky use of video games, i.e., they could push to use video games to self-enhance oneself, a dysfunctional strategy that exposes to problematic gaming. The study gives some indications on the variables that associate with problematic gaming and has some practical relevance, providing suggestions in the design of effective problematic gaming prevention and treatment interventions.

Do Individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder Share Personality Traits with Substance-Dependent Individuals?

(1) Background: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) shares many similarities with substance use disorder (SUD), contributing to its recognition as an addictive disorder. Nevertheless, no study has compared IGD to other addictive disorders in terms of personality traits established as highly co-occurring with SUDs. (2) Methods: We recruited a sample of gamers (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) (MMORPGs) via online in-game forums. We compared 83 individuals with IGD (MMORPG-IGD group) to 47 former heroin addicts under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT; MMT group) with regard to alexithymia, impulsivity, sensation seeking and aggressiveness assessed through self-administered scales, being TAS-20, BIS-10, Z-SSS and BDHI, respectively. (3) Results: Our results draw a relatively similar personality profile between groups but indicate that the subject traits are generally more pronounced in the MMT cohort. The overall lesser intensity of these traits in the MMORPG-IGD group might reflect the greater variability in the severity of the IGD. (4) Conclusions: IGD shares personality traits with MMT, and intensity may be influenced by the severity of the addiction or by certain direct environmental factors, and might also influence the propensity towards one behavior rather than another.

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 Association Between Internet Gaming Disorder and Sensation Seeking Among Arab Adolescents

Research on internet gaming disorder (IGD) has increased considerably over the last decade. Although most IGD research has focused on Western or South Asian samples, it is critical to understand and assess this disorder among other populations. The present study investigated the association between IGD and sensation seeking among Arab adolescents. An online survey consisting of the short internet gaming disorder short scale (IGDSS) and brief sensation seeking scale (B-SSS) was completed by 260 participants (mean age = 14.61, SD = 2.43). The results showed that sensation seeking behaviours were associated with higher gaming hours and greater chances of exhibiting IGD. The findings support the current perspective of understanding this disorder from a disease framework as it highlights the relevance of behavioural components in gaming addiction. Importantly, the results will further aid the development of reliable diagnosis and efficacious treatments within clinical practices.

Effect and Mechanisms of State Boredom on Consumers' Livestreaming Addiction

With the rapid development of livestreaming marketing in China, consumers spend an increasing amount of time watching and purchasing on the platform, which shows a trend of livestreaming addiction. In the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the addiction exacerbated by a surge of boredom caused by home quarantine. Based on the observation of this phenomenon, this research focused on whether state boredom could facilitate consumers' livestreaming addiction and explored the associated mechanisms of this relationship. Based on three studies, this research found that state boredom had a positive effect on consumers' livestreaming addiction, and this relationship worked through the mediating effect of consumers' sensation seeking. We further verified a moderated mediation effect of consumers' life meaning perception, where the indirect effect of state boredom on consumers' livestreaming addiction via consumers' sensation seeking existed for high and low levels of life meaning perception, but in opposite directions. The conclusions provided theoretical and practical implications of livestreaming marketing and healthy leisure consumption.

Factors related to the dual condition of gambling and gaming disorders: A path analysis model

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Gaming disorder has experienced rapid growth in the last decade among youth and adult populations, in parallel to the expansion of the videogame industry. The objective of this study was to explore the underlying process to explain the dual diagnosis of gaming with gambling disorder.

METHODS

The sample included n = 117 patients who met clinical criteria for gaming disorder, recruited from a tertiary care unit specialized in the treatment of behavioral addictions. Path analysis (implemented through structural equation modeling) assessed the direct and mediational mechanisms between the dual condition of gaming + gambling disorder and sociodemographic variables and personality traits.

RESULTS

The comorbid gaming + gambling disorder was met for 14.5% of the participants (additionally, 6.0% of the sample also met criteria for problematic gambling). The dual diagnosis was directly related to an older age at onset of the addiction problems, a higher level of the novelty seeking trait and being in active work. Employment status also mediated the relationship between persistence levels and chronological age. Greater psychopathological distress was related to females, higher levels of harm avoidance and persistence and lower levels of self-directedness.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study provide empirical evidence for the specific factors that increase the likelihood of the dual gaming + gambling disorder. Clinical settings should consider these features to improve gaming diagnosis and treatment. Preventive programs should also be focused on the most vulnerable groups to prevent onset and progression of this comorbid condition.

Internet Addiction and Sleep Problems among Russian Adolescents: A Field School-Based Study

This study aims to establish a link between disturbances in the night sleep habitus, quality of sleep, and daytime sleepiness in adolescents with Internet addiction and different types of content consumed. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study of a school sample in three large cities in Central Siberia. 4615 schoolchildren of 12–18 years old were examined. The Russian-language versions of the Chen Internet Addiction Scale, the Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents, and the Social Media Disorder Scale were used to identify Internet addiction. Questions from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire were used to assess nighttime sleep. Daytime sleepiness was assessed using the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale questionnaire. Results: Adolescents with Internet addiction go to bed and wake up late; they are characterized by a decrease in the duration of nighttime sleep, an increase in sleep onset latency, and frequent nighttime awakenings, as well as more pronounced daytime sleepiness. Among the sleep parameters studied, the indicators of daytime sleepiness and night awakening scales have the highest effect size in Internet-addicted adolescents, regardless of the media consumed. Conclusion: Internet-addicted adolescents are characterized by significant disturbances in the quality of nighttime sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness, which requires appropriate psychological correction.

How has Internet Addiction been Tracked Over the Last Decade? A Literature Review and 3C Paradigm for Future Research

Background:

The popularity of the internet aggravated by its excessive and uncontrolled use has resulted in psychological impairment or addiction. Internet addiction is hypothesized as an impulse-control disorder of internet use having detrimental impacts on daily life functions, family relationships, and emotional stability. The goal of this review is to provide an exhaustive overview of the empirical evidence on internet addiction and draw attention to future research themes.

Methods:

We performed a literature search on ScienceDirect and PubMed to review original research articles with empirical evidence published on peer-reviewed international journals from 2010 to 2019. Eight hundred and 26 articles were eligible for analysis. Frequency and descriptive statistics were calculated by Microsoft Excel.

Results:

A substantial contribution has been coming from researchers from China, Turkey, Korea, Germany, and Taiwan respectively. Despite controversies regarding its definition and diagnostic procedures, internet addiction has become the focal point of a myriad of studies that investigated this particular phenomenon from different exposures. Given observed literature review data regarding research design, data acquisition, and data analysis strategies, we proposed the 3C paradigm which emphasizes the necessity of research incorporating cross-disciplinary investigation conducted on cross-cultural settings with conscientious cross-validation considerations to gain a better comprehension of internet addiction.

Conclusions:

The findings of the present literature review will serve both academics and practitioners to develop new solutions for better characterize internet addiction.

Comorbidity, family history and personality traits in pathological gamblers compared with healthy controls

Background

While DSM-5 classified pathological gambling as an addictive disorder, there is debate as to whether ICD-11 should follow suit. The debate hinges on scientific evidence such as neurobiological findings, family history of psychiatric disorders, psychiatric comorbidity, and personality variables.

Methods

In the “Baden-Württemberg Study of Pathological Gambling”, we compared a group of 515 male pathological gamblers receiving treatment with 269 matched healthy controls. We studied differences in sociodemographic characteristics, gambling-related variables, psychiatric comorbidity (lifetime), family history of psychiatric conditions, as well as personality traits such as impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale), sensation seeking (Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale) and the NEO-FFI big five. Personality traits were validated in an age- and ethnicity-matched subsample of “pure” gamblers without any psychiatric comorbidity (including nicotine dependence). Data were analyzed using two-sample t-tests, Chi2 analyses, Fisher's exact test and Pearson correlation analysis, as appropriate. Bonferroni correction was applied to correct for multiple comparisons.

Results

Only 1% of the gamblers had been diagnosed with an impulse control disorder other than gambling (ICD-10). Notably, 88% of the gamblers in our sample had a comorbid diagnosis of substance dependence. The highest axis I comorbidity rate was for nicotine dependence (80%), followed by alcohol dependence (28%). Early age of first gambling experience was correlated with gambling severity. Compared to first-degree relatives of controls, first-degree relatives of pathological gamblers were more likely to suffer from alcohol dependence (27.0% vs. 7.4%), pathological gambling (8.3% vs. 0.7%) and suicide attempts (2.7% vs. 0.4%). Significant group differences were observed for the NEO-FFI factors neuroticism, agreeableness and conscientiousness. Gamblers were also more impulsive than controls, but did not differ from controls in terms of sensation seeking.

Conclusions

Our findings support classifying pathological gambling as a behavioural addiction in the ICD-11. This decision will have a significant impact on the approaches available for prevention (e.g. age limits) and treatment.

The longitudinal effect of early-life sensation seeking on gambling and gambling problems among Puerto Rican young adults

Sensation seeking has been proposed as a risk factor for gambling and gambling problems; however, existing evidence for a relationship between sensation seeking and gambling behaviors is inconclusive and data are lacking for emerging adults and racial and ethnic minorities. In this longitudinal study, we explored the association between developmental trajectories of sensation seeking in childhood and adolescence and gambling and gambling problems in early adulthood in individuals of Puerto Rican origin. Gambling data were collected during 2014-2018 from a subsample of participants in the Boricua Youth Study who were recruited in the South Bronx of New York City and in San Juan and Caguas, Puerto Rico. Sensation seeking was measured using a 10-item instrument modified from the scale created by Russo et al. for use in children as young as 5 years old. Developmental trajectories of age-adjusted sensation seeking were created using growth mixture models. Gambling and gambling problems were assessed based on the Canadian Adolescent Gambling Inventory (CAGI) Version 1.09. Data were analyzed using descriptive methods and multivariable logistic regression. Individuals in the high sensation-seeking class had lower adjusted odds of past-year gambling (OR = .36; 95% confidence interval [.14, .92]) than did those in the normative sensation-seeking class, whereas no differences were observed for individuals in the low and accelerated classes. No relationship was found between sensation seeking and past-year gambling problems. Given the severe consequences of early initiation of gambling and gambling problems, other early life risk factors and alternative hypotheses for the elevated prevalence of gambling problems in young adults and racial and ethnic minority populations should be explored. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Neurobiological Risk Factors for the Development of Internet Addiction in Adolescents

The sudden appearance and spread of Internet addiction in adolescent populations, in association with the rapid escalation of consumed Internet content and the broad availability of smartphones and tablets with Internet access, is posing a new challenge for classical addictology which requires urgent solutions. Like the majority of other psychopathological conditions, pathological Internet addiction depends upon a group of multifactor polygenic conditions. For each specific case, there is a unique combination of inherited characteristics (nervous tissue structure, secretion, degradation, and reception of neuromediators), and many are extra-environment factors (family-related, social, and ethnic-cultural). One of the main challenges in the development of the bio-psychosocial model of Internet addiction is to determine which genes and neuromediators are responsible for increased addiction susceptibility. This information will herald the start of a search for new therapeutic targets and the development of early prevention strategies, including the assessment of genetic risk levels. This review summarizes the literature and currently available knowledge related to neurobiological risk factors regarding Internet addiction in adolescents. Genetic, neurochemical and neuroimaging data are presented with links to actual pathogenetic hypotheses according to the bio-psychosocial model of IA forming.

Application of Diagnostic Interview for Internet Addiction (DIA) in Clinical Practice for Korean Adolescents

The increased prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and the inclusion of IGD in DSM-5 and ICD-11 emphasizes the importance of measuring and describing the IGD symptoms. We examined the psychometric properties of the Diagnostic Interview for Internet Addiction (DIA), a semi-structured diagnostic interview tool for IGD, and verified the application of DIA in clinical practice for Korean adolescents. The DIA is conducted in a manner that interviews both adolescents and their caregivers, and each item has a standardized representative question and various examples. It consists of 10 items based on the DSM-5 IGD diagnostic criteria, which is cognitive salience, withdrawal, tolerance, difficulty in regulating use, loss of interest in other activities, persistent use despite negative results, deception regarding Internet/games/SNS use, use of Internet/games/SNS to avoid negative feelings, interference with role performance, and craving. The study included 103 adolescents divided into three subgroups (mild risk, moderate risk, and addicted group) based on the total score of DIA. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared among the DIA subgroups using the chi-square test and analysis of variance (ANOVA), and correlation analysis was used to examine the associations of IGD symptoms with clinical variables (e.g., impulsivity, aggression, depression, anxiety, self-esteem). The DIA total score was significantly correlated with Internet and smartphone addiction, depression, state anxiety, self-esteem, impulsivity, aggression, and stress. Furthermore, the moderate risk and addicted group showed significantly higher levels of Internet and smartphone addiction, anxiety, depression, impulsivity, aggression, stress, and lower self-esteem compared with the mild risk group. The Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI), which measures temperament and character traits, revealed that the mild risk group had higher levels of persistence and self-directedness than did the addicted group. Our findings confirmed the psychometric properties of DIA and the application of the DIA classifications in Korean adolescents.

Internet Gamblers Differ on Social Variables: A Latent Class Analysis

Online gambling has gained popularity in the last decade, leading to an important shift in how consumers engage in gambling and in the factors related to problem gambling and prevention. Indebtedness and loneliness have previously been associated with problem gambling. The current study aimed to characterize online gamblers in relation to indebtedness, loneliness, and several in-game social behaviors. The data set was obtained from 584 Internet gamblers recruited online through gambling websites and forums. Of these gamblers, 372 participants completed all study assessments and were included in the analyses. Questionnaires included those on sociodemographics and social variables (indebtedness, loneliness, in-game social behaviors), as well as the Gambling Motives Questionnaire, Gambling Related Cognitions Scale, Internet Addiction Test, Problem Gambling Severity Index, Short Depression-Happiness Scale, and UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale. Social variables were explored with a latent class model. The clusters obtained were compared for psychological measures and three clusters were found: lonely indebted gamblers (cluster 1: 6.5%), not lonely not indebted gamblers (cluster 2: 75.4%), and not lonely indebted gamblers (cluster 3: 18%). Participants in clusters 1 and 3 (particularly in cluster 1) were at higher risk of problem gambling than were those in cluster 2. The three groups differed on most assessed variables, including the Problem Gambling Severity Index, the Short Depression-Happiness Scale, and the UPPS-P subscales (except the sensation seeking subscore). Results highlight significant between-group differences, suggesting that Internet gamblers are not a homogeneous group. Specific intervention strategies could be implemented for groups at risk.

Sensation seeking in a community sample of French gamblers: Comparison between strategic and non-strategic gamblers

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between sensation seeking and gambling disorder (GD) in a community sample of gamblers (when controlling for the effect of substance use, gender and age) and see whether sensation seeking scores depend on the gambling activity when comparing strategic and non-strategic gamblers. A total of 380 gamblers was recruited. First, pathological gamblers (PGs) (n =143) were compared to non-pathological gamblers (NPGs) (n =237). Second, strategic gamblers (n =93) were compared to non-strategic gamblers (n =110). Sociodemographic data, gambling behavior (SOGS, DSM-IV), tobacco and alcohol use (CAGE), and sensation seeking (SSS) were evaluated. PGs have higher boredom susceptibility scores than NPGs and this factor is associated with GD. Nevertheless, the relationship between sensation seeking and GD depends on the gambling activity. In fact, sensation seeking is associated with GD in strategic gamblers only. PGs playing strategic games display different profiles from non-strategic PGs. Thus, factors associated with GD differ when the gambling activity is taken into account. These findings are consistent with the idea of it being essential to identify clinically distinct subgroups of PGs in the treatment of GD.