JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Maladaptive cognitions related to Internet gaming (MCIG) play pivotal roles in understanding Internet gaming disorder (IGD).

Objective:

This study tested the mediation and suppression effects of MCIG of the associations between intrapersonal factors (impulsivity and self-control) and IGD, and between interpersonal factors (parental influences and peer influences) and IGD among adolescents, respectively.

Methods:

An anonymous, cross-sectional, and self-administered survey was conducted among secondary school students in classroom settings in Guangzhou and Chengdu, China. All grade 7 to 9 students (seven to nine years of formal education) of seven secondary schools were invited to join the study; 3,087 completed the survey. The DSM-5 Checklist was used to assess IGD.

Results:

The prevalence of IGD was 13.6% and 17.7% among all participants and adolescent Internet gamers, respectively. The three types of MCIG (perceived rewards of Internet gaming, perceived urges for playing Internet games, and perceived unwillingness to stop playing without completion of gaming tasks) were positively associated with IGD (p<0.05). Impulsivity, self-control, parental influences, and peer influences were all significantly associated with the three types of MCIG and IGD. The three types of MCIG partially mediated/suppressed the associations between the studied factors and IGD (effect size of 30.0% to 37.8%; p<0.05).

Conclusions:

Impulsivity, self-control, and interpersonal influences had both direct and indirect effects via MCIG on IGD. Modifications of the three types of MCIG can potentially reduce the harmful impacts of impulsivity/interpersonal influences on IGD and enhance the protective effect of self-control against IGD. Future longitudinal studies are warranted.