Internet gaming disorder: Feeling the flow of social games

Abstract

Introduction Gaming Disorder (GD) was added to the recent publication of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) by the World Health Organization. This aligns with recommendations of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5), issued by the American Psychiatric Association. Accordingly, further relevant research has been invited. The interplay between preference for online social game genres, the degree of online Flow (or immersive pleasure ) experienced, and the gamer's biological gender were examined here as contributing factors of IGD. Method A normative sample of adult internet gamers was collected online ( N = 237, Age = 18–59, Males = 157; 66%; Females = 80; 34%). Participants completed the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS-SF9), the Online Flow Questionnaire (OFQ), and also self-reported demographics and internet/gaming behaviours. Results Mediation and moderated mediation analyses indicated that the level of online Flow experienced considerably mediated the association between the preference for social games genres and the intensity of IGD behaviours across both biological genders. Conclusions Results suggest that the level of online Flow experienced constitutes a risk factor in relation to the development of IGD. Furthermore, games which mandate social interaction with others present to be conducive to online Flow, and thus enhancing IGD risk irrespective of the biological gender of the gamer. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed.

Associations between attention deficit hyperactivity and internet gaming disorder symptoms: Is there consistency across types of symptoms, gender and countries?

“…There is a wide range of game genres, these can include racing, shooting, puzzle, fighting, simulation, and role-playing games, available both in single player and/or multiplayer formats ( Anderson et al, 2017 ; Hu, Stavropoulos, Anderson, Scerri, & Collard, 2018 ; Scerri, Anderson, Stavropoulos, & Hu, 2018 ). Recent studies have shown that IGD susceptibility appears to vary across these game genres, with MMO games consistently corresponding with a higher risk due to its unique structural characteristics ( Kuss & Griffiths, 2012 ; Stavropoulos, Kuss, et al, 2017 ; Stavropoulos, Wilson, Kuss, Griffiths, & Gentile, 2017 ; Stetina et al, 2011 ).…”

Assessing Online Flow Across Cultures: A Two-Fold Measurement Invariance Study

“…Overall, it is assumed that gamification processes could escalate into a form of addiction (Zhang et al, 2018b). The latter has attracted significant attention particularly after the introduction of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), as a disorder requiring further study (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013; Hu et al, in press).…”

Test-Retest Measurement Invariance of the Nine-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale in Two Countries: A Preliminary Longitudinal Study

“…Despite OG having many positive psychosocial effects 1 beyond satisfying one's leisure needs Carras et al 2018;Jones et al 2014), for excessive gamers, psychosocial repercussions can be multiple, 2 compromising their concurrent and future adaptation (Anderson et al 2017;Beard et al 2017;Kuss and Griffiths 2012;Kuss et al 2017;Pontes et al 2017b;Kuss et al 2018;Stavropoulos et al 2018aStavropoulos et al , 2018bStavropoulos et al 2019). The extent and the significance of the excessive OG's negative repercussions have prompted questions and concerns regarding its classification as a distinct psychopathological entity and its inclusion in the broader category of addictive behaviors 3 (Kuss et al 2018;Hu et al 2018;Scerri et al 2018).…”