A descriptive survey of online gaming characteristics and gaming disorder in Ireland

Columb, D, Griffiths, MD ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524 and O’Gara, C, 2023. A descriptive survey of online gaming characteristics and gaming disorder in Ireland. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 40 (2), pp. 200-208. ISSN 0790-9667

[thumbnail of 1299725_Griffiths.pdf]
Preview
Text
1299725_Griffiths.pdf - Post-print

Download (326kB) | Preview

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to carry out the first ever study of gaming characteristics of individuals engaging in online gaming in Ireland and to ascertain whether features of gaming disorder are present in this population.

Methods: An online survey (comprising 21 questions – 3 demographic questions and 18 questions related to gaming and gaming disorder) was distributed on numerous Irish online gaming forums and Irish online gaming communities. Participants were self-selected and invited to compete the online survey containing questions related to gaming behaviours (age of onset, hours played on weekdays/weekends, type of device used), mobile gaming, motives for online gaming, use of microtransactions, engagement in esports, and a screening tool for the presence of gaming disorder.

Results: A total of 166 participants engaged in the online survey. Among this study population of regular gamers in Ireland, 2.4% of the study population were classified as having gaming disorder, with up to 5.4% showing some evidence of disordered gaming. The main motivation for online gaming in the non-disordered gaming group was recreation (13.3, sd = 2.7) but only the fourth main motivation in the disordered gaming group behind competition (16.3, sd = 3.7), escape (16.2, sd = 4.3), and coping (15.1, sd = 3.7). Increased hours of gameplay on weekdays and weekends were noted in the disordered gaming group compared to non-disordered gamers.

Conclusions: A small percentage of gamers in Ireland demonstrate disordered gaming characteristics and gaming disorder, consistent with data from other international studies. Epidemiological studies are required in Ireland to enhance our knowledge of this disorder.

Item Type: Journal article
Publication Title: Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine
Creators: Columb, D., Griffiths, M.D. and O’Gara, C.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date: 2023
Volume: 40
Number: 2
ISSN: 0790-9667
Identifiers:
Number
Type
10.1017/ipm.2020.5
DOI
1299725
Other
Divisions: Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by: Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added: 02 Mar 2020 09:48
Last Modified: 08 Aug 2023 10:31
URI: https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/39339

Actions (login required)

Edit View Edit View

Statistics

Views

Views per month over past year

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year