The Associations Between Loneliness, Hopelessness, and Self-control and Internet Gaming Disorder Among University Students Who Were Men Who Have Sex With Men: Cross-sectional Mediation Study

Abstract

Background The minority stress model postulates that men who have sex with men (MSM) often encounter multiple stressors because of their sexual minority status, which may lead to psychological problems and maladaptive coping such as addictive behaviors (eg, internet gaming disorder [IGD]). It was hypothesized that hopelessness and loneliness would be associated with IGD via self-control among MSM. Objective This study investigated the prevalence of IGD and its associations with variables related to minority stress (loneliness and hopelessness) among MSM who were university students. Mediation involving such associations via self-control was also explored. Methods With informed consent, 305 MSM attending universities in Sichuan, China participated in the study. The validated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) checklist was used to assess IGD. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for background factors and structural equation modeling were conducted. Results The prevalence of IGD was 12.8% (n=39). Logistic regression found that IGD was positively associated with hopelessness and loneliness, and negatively associated with self-control. The structural equation modeling identified three significant paths between hopelessness/loneliness and IGD: (1) hopelessness → lower self-control → higher IGD (full mediation), (2) loneliness → lower self-control → higher IGD (partial mediation: effect size of 28%), and (3) a direct effect from loneliness to IGD. Conclusions IGD was prevalent among young MSM and warrants interventions that may try to reduce the level of psychosocial problems such as loneliness and hopelessness and improve self-control. According to the socioecological model, the promotion of social acceptance and reduction in stigma toward MSM are important in reducing loneliness and hopefulness among MSM. Self-control links up the relationships between psychosocial problems and IGD and should be given special attention. Longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm the findings and test new mediations between loneliness/hopelessness and MSM with IGD.

Internalizing personality traits and coping motivations for gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-lagged panel mediation analysis

“…While coping motives were identified as a predictor of future excessive gaming in individuals with elevated anxiety sensitivity, this relationship did not hold longitudinally for the personality trait of hopelessness. Hopelessness has been shown in previous studies to be associated with gaming-related problems (Biolcati et al, 2021;Chen et al, 2021;Yu et al, 2023); however, in the current study, gaming was measured only through time spent gaming. It is possible that this measurement of time spent gaming was not specific enough to capture this relationship.…”

Patient, supporter and primary healthcare professional perspectives on health risks in over 16s with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in England: a national survey study

“…sleep disorders, weight [42,67,86]), many health risks (e.g. substance misuse, self-harm, high risk sexual behaviour) are more likely to relate to the underlying neuropsychological processes in ADHD such as difficulties in evaluation of risk and delay discounting [87][88][89] and associations with impulsivity [90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99].…”

Sexual stigmas among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals with problematic internet use and depression

“…Moreover, according to the minority stress hypothesis, sexual stigma can cause psychological distress among LGB individuals and compromises their mental health (17). Studies have also found that depressive symptoms, hopelessness and loneliness were positively associated with PIU among LGB individuals (19,20). Therefore, LGB individuals who experience greater sexual stigma are more likely to exhibit both PIU and significant depression is a reasonable hypothesis.…”