Deep learning(s) in gaming disorder through the user-avatar bond: a longitudinal study using machine learning

Stavropoulos, V, Zarate, D, Prokofieva, M, Van de Berg, N, Karimi, L, Gorman Alesi, A, Richards, M, Bennet, S and Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524, 2023. Deep learning(s) in gaming disorder through the user-avatar bond: a longitudinal study using machine learning. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 12 (4), pp. 878-894. ISSN 2062-5871

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Abstract

Background and aims: Gaming disorder [GD] risk has been associated with the way gamers bond with their visual representation (i.e., avatar) in the game-world. More specifically, a gamer's relationship with their avatar has been shown to provide reliable mental health information about the user in their offline life, such as their current and prospective GD risk, if appropriately decoded.

Methods: To contribute to the paucity of knowledge in this area, 565 gamers (Mage = 29.3 years; SD =10.6) were assessed twice, six months apart, using the User-Avatar-Bond Scale (UABS) and the Gaming Disorder Test. A series of tuned and untuned artificial intelligence [AI] classifiers analysed concurrently and prospectively their responses.

Results: Findings showed that AI models learned to accurately and automatically identify GD risk cases, based on gamers' reported UABS score, age, and length of gaming involvement, both concurrently and longitudinally (i.e., six months later). Random forests outperformed all other AIs, while avatar immersion was shown to be the strongest training predictor.

Conclusion: Study outcomes demonstrated that the user-avatar bond can be translated into accurate, concurrent and future GD risk predictions using trained AI classifiers. Assessment, prevention, and practice implications are discussed in the light of these findings.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Behavioral Addictions
Creators:	Stavropoulos, V., Zarate, D., Prokofieva, M., Van de Berg, N., Karimi, L., Gorman Alesi, A., Richards, M., Bennet, S. and Griffiths, M.D.
Publisher:	Akadémiai Kiadó
Date:	December 2023
Volume:	12
Number:	4
ISSN:	2062-5871
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1556/2006.2023.00062 DOI 1834443 Other
Rights:	This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium for non-commercial purposes, provided the original author and source are credited, a link to the CC License is provided, and changes – if any – are indicated.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	13 Nov 2023 15:10
Last Modified:	08 Jan 2024 13:46
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/50365

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