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

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Stavropoulos, V., Adams, B.L.M., Beard, C.L., Dumble, E., Trawley, S., Gomez, R. and Pontes, H.M. ORCID: 0000-0001-8020-7623, 2019. Associations between attention deficit hyperactivity and internet gaming disorder symptoms: is there consistency across types of symptoms, gender and countries? Addictive Behaviors Reports, 9: 100158. ISSN 2352-8532

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2018.100158

Abstract

Background: Videogame addiction has been suggested as a tentative disorder in 2013 by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and was recently officially recognized as a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization (WHO). Although a few studies have identified attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a key risk factor for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), the interplay between ADHD and IGD symptoms with gender differences across cultures remains to be further examined.

Objective: This study examined the moderating effects of gender in the association between ADHD and IGD across two nations.

Method: A cross-sectional online survey was developed to recruit 164 Australian (Mage = 23.01, SD = 3.35, Minage = 18, Maxage = 31, Males n = 121, 73.80%) and 457 U.S.-North American (Mage = 25.25 years, SD = 2.76, Minage = 18 years, Maxage = 29 years, Males = 265, 57.98%) Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) players aged between 18 and 29 years.

Results: The hierarchical linear regression, moderation and moderated moderation analyses revealed that participants presenting greater inattention and hyperactivity symptoms exhibited higher levels of IGD-related behaviors in the two samples. Moreover, these associations differed across genders between the two countries. Specifically, more hyperactive-impulsive, as well as inattentive males in the USA presented higher levels of disordered gaming.

Conclusion: The results highlight the need for more cross-cultural and symptom-focused research in the broader IGD field.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Addictive Behaviors Reports

Creators:

Stavropoulos, V., Adams, B.L.M., Beard, C.L., Dumble, E., Trawley, S., Gomez, R. and Pontes, H.M.

Publisher:

Elsevier

Date:

June 2019

Volume:

ISSN: