Relationships between psychological flexibility and internet gaming disorder among adolescents: Mediation effects of depression and maladaptive cognitions

Abstract

Psychological flexibility may reduce addictive behaviours by adaptive and flexible emotional and cognitive processes. This study tested a mediation model of internet gaming disorder (IGD) in which psychological flexibility would reduce depression and maladaptive cognitions related to internet gaming and in turn lower the risk of IGD. A cross-sectional study surveyed 2102 secondary 1–4 students from seven schools during March to November 2021 in Hong Kong, China. The results showed that 12.7% and 52.2% of the students were classified as having probable IGD and depression, respectively. The proposed mediation model fitted the data well: χ2/df = 8.00, CFI = .99, NNFI = .99, RMSEA = .01. Psychological inflexibility was directly and positively associated with IGD (B = .01, β = .07, p = .003) and indirectly and positively associated with IGD via depressive symptoms (B = .01, β = .07, p = .001, PM = 23.7%) and maladaptive cognitions (B = .03, β = .15, p = .001, PM = 50.8%). Multi-group analyses showed that gender significantly moderated the associations between psychological inflexibility and maladaptive cognitions (Δχ2/Δdf = 8.69/1, p < .05), between maladaptive cognitions and IGD (Δχ2/Δdf = 4.33/1, p < .05), and between psychological inflexibility and IGD (Δχ2/Δdf = 5.46/1, p < .05). Depression and maladaptive cognitions may be significant mediators that could explain the relationship between psychological flexibility and IGD. Also, gender difference may exist. Based on the findings, intervention strategies for IGD reduction are discussed.

Explicit and implicit effects of gaming content on social media on the behavior of young adults

“…It has been reported that patients with IGD exhibit various types of executive dysfunction ( Lee et al, 2020 ). Specifically, recent studies have shown that both individuals with IGD and those at risk of IGD exhibit reduced CF ( Weinstein et al, 2017 ; Yang X. et al, 2023 ). Inflexible cognitive processing may produce maladaptive emotions and cognitive biases that exacerbate IGD-related behaviors ( Zhou et al, 2012 ; Chen L. et al, 2018 ; Tei and Fujino, 2023 ).…”

“…Individuals that are more impulsive spend more time playing video games ( Gentile et al, 2012 ). Regarding CF, recent studies have found an association between reduced CF and the severity of gaming addiction in individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD) ( Weinstein et al, 2017 ; Yang X. et al, 2023 ). Furthermore, these factors have been reported to play important roles in cue reactivity.…”

Outlining a novel psychometric model of mental flexibility and affect dynamics

“…Psychological Flexibility (PF) can be described as the ability to either alter one’s behavioral patterns; the ability or willingness to be in contact with our emotions, thoughts, or sensations (private events), both wanted and unwanted ( Kashdan and Rottenberg, 2010 ; Cobos-Sánchez et al, 2020 ; Edwards and Lowe, 2021 ; Rizzo and Schwartz, 2021 ; Fang and Ding, 2022 ; Chong et al, 2023 ; Yang et al, 2023 ). It is defined as the ability to fully contact the present moment as a conscious human being, changing or persisting in one’s behavior while doing so serves valued goals ( Kashdan and Rottenberg, 2010 ; Christodoulou et al, 2023 ).…”

“…Cognitive and Psychological flexibility have been examined in relation to other processes, e.g., Emotional Intelligence (EI), creativity, and beliefs ( Nijstad et al, 2010 ; Elen et al, 2011 ; Arán Filippetti and Krumm, 2020 ; Cobos-Sánchez et al, 2020 ; Rizzo and Schwartz, 2021 ; Wu et al, 2021 ; Yang et al, 2023 ). Specifically, in these domains, flexibility emerged as the ability to adaptively regulate social relationships (Emotional Intelligence), create new connections between ideas (creativity), and influence beliefs.…”

Dynamic changes of regional brain activity in adolescents with internet gaming disorder

“…Neural mechanisms of IGD still remains unclear, and there are a few e cient treatments of IGD. Neurobiological research may provide new ideas for intervention and treatment of adolescent IGD [12] .…”