Gender-specific motivational pathways in ADHD-related inattention and gaming disorder symptoms

Koncz, P, Demetrovics, Z, Urbán, R, Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524 and Király, O, 2024. Gender-specific motivational pathways in ADHD-related inattention and gaming disorder symptoms. Addictive Behaviors, 158: 108120. ISSN 0306-4603

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Abstract

Comorbidity between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and gaming disorder (GD) is widely recognized in the literature. Previous research has indicated gender-dependent underlying mechanisms in the development and maintenance of problematic gaming. Motivational research presents an opportunity to provide further insight regarding the nature of this association. Self-report data were collected from videogame players (N = 14,740) using an online survey in collaboration with a popular gaming magazine. The survey included items concerning symptoms of ADHD and GD, motives for gaming, and time spent playing videogames. Structural equation modeling was used to create two parallel mediation models (one for males, one for females), including motives to play games as mediators. This was done to potentially explain psychological drivers of the association between ADHD and GD. Results demonstrated a common pathway from inattention to GD symptom severity through the immersion/escapism motivation for both males (β = 0.068; p < 0.001) and females (β = 0.081; p < 0.05), while the paths from inattention to GD symptom severity through the habit/boredom motive (β = 0.094; p < 0.001) and competition motive (β = 0.021; p < 0.001) were only significant for males. Gamers experiencing symptoms of ADHD, especially inattentive symptoms, are at risk of the occurrence of GD symptoms through videogames becoming a source of maladaptive coping with daily psychological disturbances. Males experiencing inattentive symptoms tend to additionally develop problematic patterns of use through videogame playing, becoming a subjectively meaningless and boredom-reduction-oriented habitual activity or a platform of virtual competition. Unique differences suggest the necessity of different treatment approaches for males and females.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Addictive Behaviors
Creators:	Koncz, P., Demetrovics, Z., Urbán, R., Griffiths, M.D. and Király, O.
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Date:	November 2024
Volume:	158
ISSN:	0306-4603
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108120 DOI 2193567 Other
Rights:	© 2024. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Ward
Date Added:	14 Aug 2024 13:39
Last Modified:	14 Aug 2024 13:39
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/52003

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