Association Between Juvenile Psychotic Experiences and Problematic Gaming.

Background and Hypothesis: Problematic gaming (PG) is an emerging mental health condition associated with significant adverse outcomes. Even though PG has been linked to other psychiatric disorders, its association with psychotic experiences (PEs) remains poorly explored to date. The aim of our study was to examine the association between both conditions in a large Brazilian community sample. We hypothesized that adolescents with PG were more likely to report PE compared with those without the disorder. Study Design: Our investigation was based on a cross-sectional subsample of a large Brazilian cohort (n = 1616; 13- to 21-year age range). Using the 7-item version of the Game Addiction Scale, participants were classified according to their gaming status: no PG, PG, or gaming addiction (GA). The association between PG, GA, and PE was assessed through linear regression analyses, which were adjusted for the presence of significant covariates, including other psychiatric conditions. Study Results: 9.5% (n = 154) presented PG and 2.7% (n = 43) had GA. 28.0% received any Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis and the mean PE score was 9.39 (SD = 4.35). Participants presenting PG had greater levels of PE, compared with participants with no PG, even controlled by sociodemographic variables and the presence of any DSM-IV diagnosis (b = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.17-1.75, P = .017). Conclusions: According to our results, PG was significantly associated with PE, even in the presence of other covariates. Although preliminary, these results suggest that PG and PE may have shared neurobiological and/or behavioral pathways.

Association Between Internet Gaming Disorder and Suicidal Ideation Mediated by Psychosocial Resources and Psychosocial Problems Among Adolescent Internet Gamers in China: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent internet gaming disorder (IGD) was associated with severe harm, including suicidal ideation. While suicidal ideation was predictive of completed suicides, further research is required to clarify the association between IGD and suicidal ideation among adolescents, as well as the mechanisms involved. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the understudied association between IGD and suicidal ideation, as well as novel mechanisms associated with it, among Chinese adolescent internet gamers through psychosocial coping resources and psychosocial problems. METHODS: An anonymous, self-administered, cross-sectional survey was conducted among secondary school students who had played internet games in the past year in Guangzhou and Chengdu, China (from October 2019 to January 2020). In total, 1693 adolescent internet gamers were included in this study; the mean age was 13.48 (SD 0.80) years, and 60% (n=1016) were males. IGD was assessed by the 9-item Internet Gaming Disorder Checklist of the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [Fifth Edition]), while a single item assessed suicidal ideation: "Have you ever considered committing suicide in the past 12 months?" Univariate and multivariate logistic regression associations were conducted to test the significance and directions of the potential factors for suicidal ideation. The mediation mechanism was examined by structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Among all participants, the prevalence of IGD and suicidal ideation was 16.95% (287/1693) and 43.06% (729/1693), respectively. IGD cases were 2.42 times more likely than non-IGD cases to report suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.42, 95% CI 1.73-3.37). Other significant factors of suicidal ideation included psychosocial coping resources (resilience and social support, both adjusted OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.98) and psychosocial problems (social anxiety: adjusted OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.05-1.09; loneliness, adjusted OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.10-1.16). The association between IGD and suicidal ideation was partially mediated by 3 indirect paths, including (1) the 2-step path that IGD reduced psychosocial coping resources, which in turn increased suicidal ideation; (2) the 2-step path that IGD increased psychosocial problems, which in turn increased suicidal ideation; and (3) the 3-step path that IGD reduced psychosocial coping resources which then increased psychosocial problems, which in turn increased suicidal ideation, with effect sizes of 10.7% (indirect effect/total effect: 0.016/0.15), 30.0% (0.05/0.15), and 13.3% (0.02/0.15), respectively. The direct path remained statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: IGD and suicidal ideation were alarmingly prevalent. Evidently and importantly, IGD was a significant risk factor for suicidal ideation. The association was partially explained by psychosocial coping resources of resilience and social support and psychosocial problems of social anxiety and loneliness. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the findings. Pilot randomized controlled trials are recommended to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in reducing suicidal ideation by reducing IGD, improving psychosocial coping resources, and reducing psychosocial problems investigated in this study.

Online gaming reduces psychological distress in a patient with schizophrenia: A case report.

Background: Schizophrenia often involves persecutory delusions, which cause psychological distress. Some patients use online gaming as a coping tool. However, excessive online gaming has raised concerns about internet gaming disorders (IGD), while any soothing effects of online gaming on psychological distress remain unclear. Herein, we report changes in anxiety and IGD severity, measured using rating scales, in a patient with schizophrenia who used online gaming as a coping strategy for psychological distress. Case Presentation: A 43-year-old woman diagnosed with schizophrenia had worsening persecutory delusions, including that of being targeted by snipers, and had difficulty going out because of anxiety. She coped with her psychological distress using online shooting games. We assessed her state and trait anxiety, social anxiety, avoidance behavior when alone, and IGD severity. There was a notable reduction in the state anxiety score after the introduction of online gaming. The scores for trait anxiety, social anxiety, and avoidance behavior when alone decreased noticeably after the acquisition of coping strategies. This case demonstrates the presence of IGD only during the acquisition of coping strategies. Conclusion: This case highlights the potential of online gaming as a coping strategy for schizophrenia-related anxiety. However, excessive gaming can lead to IGD and thus necessitates caution. Further research should explore the applicability and potential risks of using online gaming to cope with psychological distress among patients with schizophrenia.

Resting-state brain networks alterations in adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder associate with cognitive control impairments.

Objective: Research indicates that cognitive control is compromised in individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, the neural mechanisms behind it are still unclear. This study aims to investigate alterations in resting-state brain networks in adolescents with IGD and the potential neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction. Materials and methods: A total of 44 adolescent IGD subjects (male/female: 38/6) and 50 healthy controls (male/female: 40/10) were enrolled. Participants underwent demographic assessments, Young's Internet Addiction Scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 Chinese Revised Version, the Chinese Adolescents' Maladaptive Cognitions Scale, exploratory eye movement tests, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). FMRI data were analyzed using the GIFT software for independent component analysis, focusing on functional connectivity within and between resting-state brain networks. Results: In comparison to the control group, impulsivity in adolescent IGD subjects showed a positive correlation with the severity of IGD (r=0.6350, p < 0.001), linked to impairments in the Executive Control Network (ECN) and a decrease in functional connectivity between the Salience Network (SN) and ECN (r=0.4307, p=0.0021; r=-0.5147, p=0.0034). Decreased resting state activity of the dorsal attention network (DAN) was associated with attentional dysregulation of IGD in adolescents (r=0.4071, p=0.0017), and ECN increased functional connectivity with DAN. The degree of IGD was positively correlated with enhanced functional connectivity between the ECN and DAN (r=0.4283, p=0.0037). Conclusions: This research demonstrates that changes in the ECN and DAN correlate with heightened impulsivity and attentional deficits in adolescents with IGD. The interaction between cognitive control disorders and resting-state brain networks in adolescent IGD is related.

The Mediating Role of Problematic Use of Loot Boxes Between Internet Gaming Disorder and Online Gambling Disorder: Cross-Sectional Analytical Study.

Background: The video game industry has introduced a new form of monetization through microtransactions. A controversial example has been the so-called "loot boxes" (LBs) as virtual objects, which are randomized and bought with legal money. In recent years, LBs have come to connect 2 distinct problem behaviors, namely internet gaming disorder (IGD) and online gambling disorder (OGD). Many association studies have been conducted on the 3 constructs, but few have delved into the relationship of problematic use of LBs (PU-LB) with IGD and OGD. Objective: This study aims to explore the mediating role of the PU-LB between IGD and OGD. Methods: This cross-sectional and analytical study used incidental sampling in 24 Spanish schools. The final sample consisted of 542 participants (male: n=523, 96.5%; age: range 11-30 y) who played video games, bought LBs, and had gambled online in the last 12 months. Participants then completed the Spanish versions of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form, Online Gambling Disorder Questionnaire, and PU-LB scale. Results: IGD scores were found to be significantly associated with both PU-LB (r=0.473, P<.001) and OGD (r=0.209, P<.001). Moreover, PU-LB was significantly associated with OGD (r=0.351, P<.001). The structural equation model results indicated that IGD had no significant direct effect on OGD (P=.903). However, the indirect effect of IGD on OGD through PU-LB was significant (P<.001). Therefore, PU-LB fully mediated the relationship between IGD and OGD. Furthermore, these results were found in the subsamples of both minors (<18 y) and young adults (≥18 y). Conclusions: It is suggested that there is a mediation effect of problematic LB use between internet gambling and online gambling problems in both minors and young adults. This has potential practical implications by providing more evidence on how LBs have become a hinge feature between 2 clinically relevant and independent issues. In this regard, adequate industry self-regulation is needed, and effective legislation for the protection of minors is necessary.

Burnout profiles among esports players: Associations with mental toughness and resilience.

The present study investigated burnout among esports players and its association with mental toughness and resilience. Esports players (N = 453; Mage = 23.0, SD = 4.18; in the top 40% of in-game rank) from seven team-based esports completed the Athlete Burnout Scale (ABO-S), Mental Toughness Questionnaire 18 (MTQ-18), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10). Latent profile analysis identified three distinct burnout profiles: "low burnout risk" (LBR; 33.8%), "medium burnout risk" (MBR; 28.0%), and "high burnout risk" (HBR; 38.3%). Low burnout profiles were associated with higher mental toughness and resilience. The LBR profile was characterized by low levels of reduced accomplishment (RA), physical exhaustion (PE), and negative feelings (NF), while [MBR and HBR reported similar PE and NF scores but] differed in RA, with HBR showing the highest RA and total burnout. This study is the first to show distinct burnout profiles among esports players, indicating a significant prevalence of burnout symptoms. This should be monitored by both players and support staff (e.g. club managers, programme managers, and high-performance support staff). Additionally, mental toughness and resilience appear to play a protective role against burnout.

Feasibility of At-Home Hand Arm Bimanual Intensive Training in Virtual Reality: Case Study.

This single-participant case study examines the feasibility of using custom virtual reality (VR) gaming software in the home environment for low-dose Hand Arm Bimanual Intensive Training (HABIT). A 10-year-old with right unilateral cerebral palsy participated in this trial. Fine and gross motor skills as well as personal goals for motor outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention using the Box and Blocks Test, Nine-Hole Peg Test, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Movement intensities collected via the VR hardware accelerometers, VR game scores, and task accuracy were recorded via the HABIT-VR software as indices of motor performance. The child and family were instructed to use the HABIT-VR games twice daily for 30 minutes over a 14-day period and asked to record when they used the system. The child used the system and completed the 14-hour, low-dose HABIT-VR intervention across 22 days. There was no change in Box and Blocks Test and Nine-Hole Peg Test scores before and after the intervention. Canadian Occupational Performance Measure scores increased but did not reach the clinically relevant threshold, due to high scores at baseline. Changes in motor task intensities during the use of VR and mastery of the VR bimanual tasks suggested improved motor efficiency. This case study provides preliminary evidence that HABIT-VR is useful for promoting adherence to HABIT activities and for the maintenance of upper extremity motor skills in the home setting.

Vaping Devices with Video Games.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies have warned e-cigarette to companies to stop selling vaping products that look like toys because these products could attract youth to nicotine use. The vaping industry has gone a step further, producing vaping devices that are fully functional video games. We have observed several new vaping devices that contain youth-oriented video games such as Pac-Man, Tetris, Mario, Q*bert, and virtual pets. Some of these games reward users for each puff of nicotine. The incorporation of video games into vaping devices raises public health concerns regarding the potential appeal to younger users and the potential to escalate nicotine use and dependence. It is crucial to address these devices through robust policy, educational initiatives, and enforcement of existing policies.

The effect of individual differences on Pavlovian conditioning in specific Internet-use disorders.

The I-PACE model suggests that Internet-use disorders result from the interplay of individual vulnerabilities and cognitive and affective processes. As in substance use disorders, Pavlovian conditioning processes are attributed a key role. However, and despite progress in identifying individual vulnerabilities, factors influencing appetitive conditioning remain poorly understood. We therefore conducted a Pavlovian conditioning experiment in which individuals with risky as well as non-problematic use of either gaming or buying-shopping applications learned to associate different abstract stimuli with either gaming or buying-shopping. Regression analyses were used to identify individual characteristics influencing awareness of the experimental contingencies, speed of acquisition of awareness and the magnitude of the conditioned emotional responses regarding pleasantness and arousal ratings of the stimuli. Results demonstrated successful Pavlovian conditioning and an attentional bias towards reward-predicting cues. Awareness of the experimental contingencies was linked solely to cognitive abilities, while the speed of acquisition of awareness and the magnitude of conditioned responses was influenced by specific personality characteristics, experiences of compensation from using the application and severity of problematic use. Importantly, certain characteristics specifically predicted the magnitude of the conditioned response towards gaming, while others specifically predicted the response towards buying-shopping, highlighting differing vulnerabilities. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions and prevention strategies tailored to these specific vulnerability factors. Further implications and limitations are discussed.

Low self-control, perceived social support and internet gaming addiction: findings from an ethnicity minority region in China.

Background: Adolescent Internet gaming addiction (IGA) is an pincreasing global concern. Drawing on self-control theory, social support theory, and problem behavior theory, this study aimed to examine the relationships between low self-control, perceived social support, and IGA among Chinese Yi and Non-Yi adolescents, with a focus on the moderating role of perceived social support and ethnic differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,997 adolescents (53.78% female, mean age 14.70 years) in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China, using a multi-stage cluster random sampling method. Participants completed questionnaires assessing IGA (Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form), low self-control (Low Self-Control Scale), and perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, OLS regression, and the seemingly unrelated estimator (SUE). Results: Low self-control was positively associated with IGA (ß = 0.35, p < 0.001), while perceived social support was negatively associated with IGA (ß = -0.27, p < 0.001). Perceived social support, particularly from family (ß = -0.43, p < 0.05) and significant others (ß = -0.49, p < 0.01), moderated the relationship between low self-control and IGA. These associations were more salient among Yi adolescents compared to non-Yi adolescents. Conclusions: This study highlights the protective role of perceived social support, especially from family and significant others, in buffering the risk of low self-control on IGA. The findings extend self-control theory and social support theory, and provide empirical support for problem behavior theory in a cross-cultural context. The results underscore the importance of considering cultural contexts in understanding IGA and developing targeted interventions for ethnic minority adolescents.

The Inhibitory Control Deficit of Internet Gaming Disorder: An Event-Related Potentials(ERPs) Study.

INTRODUCTION: The primary difficulty and challenge encountered by individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is inhibitory control deficit. Given that different types of inhibitory control have different effects on IGD patients, it is critical to investigate the neurological cognitive processes underlying various inhibitory control problems. METHODS: The IGD-20 questionnaire was used to identify Internet game disorder and healthy control group, and finally Internet game disorder in (n=25) and healthy control group (n=28) in Flanker task, Internet game disorder (n=29) and health control group (n=24) in GO/NOGO task. The Flanker task was employed to investigate distractor interference inhibition control in those with IGD, while the Go/NoGo task was used to measure their prepotent response inhibitory control. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were used to evaluate the brain mechanisms difference of both IGD and healthy participants during these different inhibitory control tasks. RESULTS: Findings indicate that compared to healthy control subjects, individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) have deficits in inhibitory control tasks during both distraction inhibition and prepotent response inhibition tasks, and distraction inhibition occurs earlier than prepotent response inhibition. In distraction inhibition tasks, the IGD group's N2 amplitude is significantly lower than the healthy control groups. In prepotent response inhibition, the N2 amplitude provoked in the IGD group is not only significantly lower than in the healthy control group, but the P3 amplitude is also significantly larger in the IGD group. The main brain activity areas of interference inhibitory control are the frontal lobe and prefrontal lobe, while the main brain activity areas of prepotent response inhibitory control are the frontal lobe and occipital lobe. CONCLUSION: The present study concentrates on the differential neurophysiological characteristics observed in individuals with Internet gaming problems, notably the ability to avoid distractions and prepotent reactions. The current research provides foundations for the assessment and development of tailored therapy and treatment methods to address the wide variety of cognitive problems reported in individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD).

Reliability generalization Meta-Analysis and psychometric review of the Gaming Disorder test (GDT): Evaluating internal consistency.

Gaming disorder (GD) is a growing public health issue requiring reliable screening and diagnostic tools. A commonly used tool for assessing GD is the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT). The GDT assesses GD based on International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) criteria; however, its psychometric testing has been conducted across studies but yet snythesized. This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize psychometric data regarding the GDT globally. Adhering to pre-registration, a comprehensive search across databases identified 17 eligible studies (n=22,000) in 14 languages reporting on the psychometric properties of the GDT, especially its Cronbach's alpha. The pooled Cronbach's alpha was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83-0.89), indicating excellent internal consistency. Although significant heterogeneity was observed (I2= 98.54%), prediction intervals suggested true outcomes likely shared a positive direction. No moderating effects were found regarding sample characteristics, study quality, or geographical location. The meta-analysis provides robust and quantitative evidence supporting the internal consistency of the GDT across diverse populations. Moreover, qualitative synthesis indicates that the GDT has strong psychometric properties without risk of bias across the analyzed studies, indicating the GDT's ability to assess GD globally. However, the heterogeneity suggests cautious interpretation of the reliability estimates.

Video gaming and sleep in adults: A systematic review.

Video games (VGs) are one of the most common forms of entertainment and their diffusion is constantly increasing. Although largely studied in the framework of their relationship with mental and physical health, the relationship of VGs with sleep are not yet fully understood. This review provides a systematic assessment of the studies that investigated the relationships between video gaming and sleep in adults. The review search included both online databases (PubMed, Scopus, and PsycInfo) and citation tracking. Twenty-six studies were included in the final qualitative analysis. Findings are described separately for subjective and objective sleep measures and then discussed considering exposure levels and VG typology. Observational studies showed an association between excessive video gaming, poor sleep quality, and delayed sleep timing, whereas habitual and/or casual use was not associated with poor sleep and some studies even showed a beneficial effect on daytime functioning. Experimental evidence shows that playing an arousing VG before sleep delays sleep onset with possible alteration of sleep structure, whereas non-arousing cognitively challenging video gaming resulted in improved sleep continuity, stability, and organization. Overall, these findings show that the effect of VGs on sleep depends on the level of arousal associated with gaming, gaming sessions' duration, and frequency of gaming.

Scoping review of withdrawal's role in contemporary gaming disorder research: Conceptualizations and operationalizations.

The global gaming community now exceeds 3 billion players, prompting increased attention from social and medical sciences regarding gaming-related disorders. Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) was incorporated into DSM-5 in 2013, and Gaming Disorder (GD) found its place in ICD-11 in 2019. A contentious criterion in IGD, not present in GD, revolves around withdrawal symptoms. This paper offers a theoretical foundation on gaming withdrawal symptoms in gaming-related disorders and conducts a scoping review of withdrawal operationalization and conceptualization in 40 selected studies, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Most studies employed a correlation framework, relying on convenience samples and self-assessment questionnaires. A smaller portion focused on clinical samples and case studies. Withdrawal was predominantly conceptualized in terms of affective components, with less emphasis on behavioural, cognitive, physical, or neurological aspects. The prevailing terminology for gaming-related disorders was IGD, with only three studies referencing GD as defined in ICD-11. Notably, just six experimental studies included abstinence control. We advocate for an expansion of research on withdrawal symptoms, particularly through experimental studies that implement abstinence within experimental groups and offer alternative operationalizations beyond dominant self-assessment measures.

Exploring Differences in Four Types of Online Activities Across Individuals with and without Problematic Smartphone Use.

Studies on problematic online activities commonly focus on one type of online activity, such as social media. However, individuals often use their Smartphones for more than one online activity. This study examined four types of online activities (social networking, gaming, information acquisition, and short-form video viewing). Based on a combinatory assessment of problematic smartphone use and hours spent online, two groups were created from a larger sample (N = 642): a problematic smartphone user group (PSU; N = 230; F = 72%; Age = 24.99 ± 6.60) and a non-problematic smart phone user group (NPSU; N = 87; F = 62%; Age = 30.49 ± 10.22). As compared to the NPSU group, the PSU group engaged in more social networking, gaming, information acquisition, and short-form video seeing. The PSU group also scored higher on psychological distress, sleep disturbance, fear of missing out, metacognitions about Smartphone use (MSU), desire thinking (DT), and lower on satisfaction with life and cognitive reappraisal. Regression analyses were employed to probe correlates of each online activity among the PSU and NPSU groups. The findings are discussed in light of the metacognitive model of addictive behaviors and future directions are provided concerning the challenges of distinguishing individuals for problematic Internet-related behaviors.

Depression, anxiety, and stress in young adult gamers and their relationship with addictive behaviors: A latent profile analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is limited research examining latent profiles of gamers based on emotional variables, which has implications for prevention efforts. The study sought to identify young adult gamer profiles based on depression, anxiety, and stress, and to examine differences between the latent profiles in other addictive behaviors (i.e., tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, illegal substance use, gaming, and gambling). METHODS: A total of 1209 young adults (Mage = 19.37, SD = 1.62; 55.3%males) reported past-year gaming. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identify distinct profiles, and a set of ANOVA and chi-square analyses characterized the profiles in terms of sociodemographic, addictive behaviors, and emotional variables. RESULTS: LPA suggested a three-profile solution: profile 1 (n = 660, 'low emotional distress'), profile 2 (n = 377, 'moderate emotional distress'), and profile 3 (n = 172, 'high emotional distress'). Participants with 'moderate' and 'high emotional distress' were mostly women, showed greater gaming severity, higher prevalence of past-month substance use (i.e., tobacco and illegal drugs), and greater consequences of alcohol use. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional nature of the study and sample being university students. CONCLUSION: Findings revealed three distinct profiles of gamers, which differed in emotional, gaming, and substance use severity. Transdiagnostic prevention programs have the potential to provide significant benefits to college students by addressing the core processes (e.g., emotion regulation) that underlie substance use and gaming.

Biomarkers of Internet Gaming Disorder-A Narrative Review.

Since game mechanics and their visual aspects have become more and more addictive, there is concern about the growing prevalence of Internet gaming disorder (IGD). In the current narrative review, we searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases for the keywords "igd biomarker gaming" and terms related to biomarker modalities. The biomarkers we found are grouped into several categories based on a measurement method and are discussed in the light of theoretical addiction models (tripartite neurocognitive model, I-PACE). Both theories point to gaming-related problems with salience and inhibition. The first dysfunction makes an individual more susceptible to game stimuli (raised reward seeking), and the second negatively impacts resistance to these stimuli (decreased cognitive control). The IGD patients' hypersensitivity to reward manifests mostly in ventral striatum (VS) measurements. However, there is also empirical support for a ventral-to-dorsal striatal shift and transition from goal-directed to habitual behaviors. The deficits in executive control are demonstrated in parameters related to the prefrontal cortex (PFC), especially the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). In general, the connection of PFC with reward under cortex nuclei seems to be dysregulated. Other biomarkers include reduced P3 amplitudes, high-frequency heart rate variability (HRV), and the number of eye blinks and saccadic eye movements during the non-resting state. A few studies propose a diagnostic (multimodal) model of IGD. The current review also comments on inconsistencies in findings in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and precuneus and makes suggestions for future IGD studies.

Gaming Disorders: Navigating the Fine Line between Entertainment and Addiction-Gaming History, Health Risks, Social Consequences, and Pathways to Prevention.

The number of people immersed in excessive gaming has increased in this age of rapid digitalization. The World Health Organization and American Psychiatric Association Organization recognize a gaming disorder as a condition that results in significant problems in daily life as a result of excessive gaming. Both organizations emphasize the similarities to behavioral addictions such as gambling. We examined the appropriate usage of video games from the perspectives of health and management in this study. For the general population, video games provide positive impacts such as stress alleviation and memory improvement. Game playing leads to a loss of time and money for the individual. It also has a negative impact on the individual's family and social life, evolving into a social problem. Gaming addiction is often accompanied by psychological disorders and other addictions, and long-term medical treatment, including approaches to the individual's psychological background and cognitive-behavioral therapy, is necessary. Therefore, the prevention of gaming disorder is essential. From a societal standpoint, action is required in three contexts: the government, game developers, and within the household as a whole. Simultaneously, the public needs to understand the positive potential of gaming, such as e-sports.

COVID-19-Related Social Isolation, Self-Control, and Internet Gaming Disorder Among Chinese University Students: Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: Internet gaming disorder among university students has become a great concern for university counsellors worldwide since the COVID-19 pandemic. The factors influencing the development of internet gaming disorder in students during the COVID-19 pandemic could be different from those before the pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the associations among social isolation, self-control, and internet gaming disorder in Chinese university students and to examine whether self-control mediates the positive effects of social isolation on internet gaming disorder. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was employed to collect data from university students in Shandong province of China from April to September 2022. The Isolation subscale of the Self-Compassion Scale, Self-Control Scale, and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale were used to assess the social isolation, self-control, and internet gaming disorder among university students, respectively. Models 4 and 5 of PROCESS software were used to analyze the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of gender on the association between social isolation and internet gaming disorder. RESULTS: A total of 479 students were recruited from 6 universities located in 3 different regions of Shandong, China. Students had low levels of internet gaming disorder and moderate levels of social isolation and self-control, with mean scores of 8.94 (SD 9.06), 12.04 (SD 3.53), and 57.15 (SD 8.44), respectively. Social isolation was positively correlated with internet gaming disorder (r=0.217; P<.001), and self-control was negatively correlated with social isolation (r=-0.355; P<.001) and internet gaming disorder (r=-0.260; P<.001). Self-control played a mediating role in the association between social isolation and internet gaming disorder (ß=-.185, 95% CI -.295 to -.087). The effects of social isolation on internet gaming disorder among female students were lower than those among male students. CONCLUSIONS: Self-control was a mediator in the association between social isolation and internet gaming disorder. Moreover, gender played a moderating role in the association between social isolation and internet gaming disorder. This study highlights the need to alleviate the development of internet gaming disorder among students during a pandemic, especially that of male students. Effective interventions that lessen social isolation and promote self-control should be developed.