Individual and Interpersonal Factors Associated with the Incidence, Persistence, and Remission of Internet Gaming Disorders Symptoms in an Adolescents Sample

Problematic internet gaming and non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese adolescents: Moderating and mediating roles of anxiety

INTRODUCTION

Despite consistent reports of the association between problematic internet gaming (PIG) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), an increase in PIG does not necessarily lead to increased NSSI. This apparent paradox indicates the presence of other mediators and moderators in the PIG-NSSI association. This study aimed to investigate the role of anxiety as a potential moderating and mediating factor of the PIG-NSSI association in Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 10,479 Chinese adolescents (50.5% male; age range, 9-18 years). Standardized self-report questionnaires were used to assess the severity of PIG, anxiety, and NSSI. Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression were applied to examine the relationships among PIG, anxiety, and NSSI. Both moderating and mediating effects of anxiety were assessed using Hayes' methods.

RESULTS

PIG, anxiety symptoms, and NSSI significantly correlated with one another. Anxiety significantly moderated the relationship between PIG and NSSI [B = 0.002, standard error (SE) = 0.000, p < 0.001], and it partially mediated the PIG-NSSI association [B = 0.017, SE = 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.014-0.021]. Social concern and concentration were the two dimensions of anxiety that exerted the strongest mediation effect (B = 0.017, SE = 0.002, 95% CI 0.014-0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents with PIG and high anxiety are likely to suffer more severe NSSI and may benefit from interventions to reduce anxiety symptoms.

The Big Five Personality Domains and Their Facets: Empirical Relations to Problematic Use of Video Games, Social Media and Alcohol

Relatively common behavioral patterns in adolescence are problematic use of video games (PG), social media (PSMU) or alcohol (PAU). According to theoretical models, personality traits are relevant for Internet-related problematic behaviors. In the present study, associations of the Big Five personality domains and their 15 facets with PG, PSMU and PAU were compared for the first time. Therefore, 492 adolescents (mean age: 16.83 years) were examined with the established Big Five Inventory-2 as well as other standardized questionnaires on PG, PSMU and PAU. For statistical evaluation, correlation analyses were used as bivariate procedures and multiple regression analyses as multivariable procedures. At the personality domain level, consistently in bivariate and multivariate analyses, statistically significant associations between higher Negative Emotionality (Neuroticism) and PG, PSMU and PAU as well as between lower Open-Mindedness and PG and PAU were observed. At the level of facets, higher Anxiety (facet of Negative Emotionality) was related to PG and PSMU as well as lower Aesthetic Sensitivity (facet of Open-Mindedness) and lower Productiveness (facet of Conscientiousness) to PG. Considering the overlap of 95% confidence intervals, very comparable patterns of associations between PG, PSMU and PAU and the Big Five and their facets were observed in adolescence (indicating similarities in etiology).

Problematic internet use and suicidality and self-injurious behaviors in adolescents: Effects of negative affectivity and social support

BACKGROUND

Problematic internet use (PIU) has been shown to be closely associated with suicidality and self-injurious behavior (SSIB), but the mechanism to help explain this association is understudied. The aim of the present study is to test mediating effects of negative affectivity between PIU and SSIB and whether social support moderates this mediating effect.

METHODS

A sample of 2173 middle and high school students (M_age = 14.66, SD_age = 1.87) in central China were recruited. All participants completed a self-report questionnaire assessing PIU, SSIB, negative affectivity, and social support. Simple mediation analysis and moderated mediation analysis were conducted to examine the roles of negative affectivity and social support in the association between PIU and SSIB.

RESULTS

PIU was positively associated with SSIB, and negative affectivity mediated this association (β = 0.255, Boot 95 % CI: 0.219 to 0.296). The indirect effect of negative affectivity was moderated by social support, with a stronger association between PIU and SSIB for adolescents with lower social support (β = 0.228, Boot 95 % CI: 0.178 to 0.282) than their counterparts (β = 0.098, Boot 95 % CI: 0.068 to 0.133).

LIMITATION

Cross-sectional design with self-report measures.

CONCLUSIONS

PIU is a detrimental risk factor for SSIB, as it is associated with high negative affectivity and increased SSIB, which was more robust for adolescents with lower social support. These results highlight the importance of helping adolescents regulate negative affectivity and improving social support-based preventative interventions to reduce SSIB.

Development and Validation of a Risk Assessment Tool for Gaming Disorder in China: The Gaming Hazard Assessment Scale

Despite the growing research interest in gaming disorder, risk screening tools developed specifically for the Chinese population are still lacking. This study aimed to construct a screening tool to evaluate the risk of gaming disorder (GD) development, by assessing the severity of GD symptoms among Chinese gamers, based on clinical expert interviews, structured interviews with GD patients, a background literature review, and IGD/GD criteria proposed by the DSM-5 and ICD-11. It introduced the Gaming Hazard Assessment Scale—a multidimensional GD risk screening tool—and evaluated the dimension structure, reliability, and validity of the scale among 959 Chinese gamers. A three-level structure, consisting of 18 items scored from 0 to 54, ultimately indicated satisfactory reliability, good validity, and acceptable model fit. The scale will help large-scale initial screening and early identification of patients with a high risk of GD. Further evaluation of the Gaming Hazard Assessment Scale in clinical settings is highly recommended.