Prevalence and Correlates of Internet Gaming Disorder: A Comparison Between English-Speaking and Chinese-Speaking Adult Gamers

Zi Lian¹*, Miguel Torez¹, Barbara C. Wallace¹, Robert E. Fullilove²

¹Center for Health Equity & Urban Science Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; ²Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

Objectives: Studies have suggested that the prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is higher among Asian populations. This study compared the prevalence and severity of IGD between English-speaking gamers and Chinese-speaking gamers. Correlates of IGD were investigated in the global sample.

Methods: A total of 101 English-speaking gamers and 130 Chinese-speaking gamers were recruited via a social marketing campaign and participated in an online questionnaire.

Results: The prevalence of IGD was 0.0% and 0.8%, respectively, among English-speaking gamers and Chinese-speaking gamers. Chinese-speaking gamers were more likely to deceive family members, therapists, or others because of the amount of gaming activity, and were more likely to have jeopardized or lost an important relationship, job, or an educational or career opportunity because of gaming activity. English-speaking gamers were more likely to own a dedicated gaming device, started video gameplay at a younger age, spent more hours weekly on gameplay, and were more likely to play games to escape or relieve a negative mood. Among the global sample, correlates of a higher level of IGD were: being males, being current students, spending more hours weekly on gameplay, having experienced anxiety in the past year, having a higher level of violence, and having less real-life social support.

Conclusions: These results suggested that the prevalence of IGD is low and comparable between English-speaking and Chinese-speaking gamers. The two populations differed in certain diagnosis criteria of IGD and behavioral factors relating to gameplay. Psychosocial factors of IGD were observed among the global sample adjusting for the cultural background.

Keywords: Internet Gaming Disorder; addiction; behavioral health; cultural difference

Free Full-text PDF

How to cite this article:

Zi Lian, Miguel Torez, Barbara C. Wallace, Robert E. Fullilove. Prevalence and Correlates of Internet Gaming Disorder: A Comparison Between English-Speaking and Chinese-Speaking Adult Gamers. .International Journal of Addiction Research and Therapy, 2022, 5:28. DOI: 10.28933/ijart-2022-01-2105

References

1. Ko, C. H., Lin, H. C., Lin, P. C., & Yen, J. Y. [2020]. Validity, functional impairment and complications related to Internet gaming disorder in the DSM-5 and gaming disorder in the ICD-11. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 54[7], 707-718. doi:10.1177/0004867419881499
2. Wartberg, L., Kriston, L., & Thomasius, R. [2020]. Internet gaming disorder and problematic social media use in a representative sample of German adolescents: Prevalence estimates, comorbid depressive symptoms and related psychosocial aspects. Computers in Human Behavior, 103[31-36]. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2019.09.014
3. Severo, R. B., Barbosa, A. P. P. N., Fouchy, D. R. C., da Cunha Coelho, F. M., Pinheiro, R. T., et al. [2020]. Development and psychometric validation of Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form [IGDS9-SF] in a Brazilian sample. Addictive Behaviors, 103, 106191. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106191
4. Pontes, H. M., Stavropoulos, V., & Griffiths, M. D. [2020]. Emerging insights on internet gaming disorder: Conceptual and measurement issues. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 11. doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2019.100242
5. Zajac, K., Ginley, M. K., & Chang, R. [2020]. Treatments of internet gaming disorder: a systematic review of the evidence. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 20[1], 85-93. doi:10.1080/14737175.2020.1671824
6. Kuss, D. J., Griffiths, M. D., Karila, L., & Billieux, J. [2014]. Internet addiction: A systematic review of epidemiological research for the last decade. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 20[25], 4026-4052.
7. Mihara, S., & Higuchi, S. [2017]. Cross‐sectional and longitudinal epidemiological studies of I nternet gaming disorder: A systematic review of the literature. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 71[7], 425-444. doi:10.1111/pcn.12532
8. American Psychiatric Association. [2013]. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders [5th ed.]. Author.
9. Bélanger-Lejars, V. O. [2015]. Internet Gaming Disorder and Gambling Disorder: A comparison of individual psychological factors. Journal of Psychology, 3[2], 122-140. doi:10.15640/jpbs.v3n2a12
10. Alavi, S. S., Ferdosi, M., Jannatifard, F., Eslami, M., Alaghemandan, H., et al. [2012]. Behavioral addiction versus substance addiction: Correspondence of psychiatric and psychological views. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 3[4], 290-294.
11. Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. [2012]. Internet and gaming addiction: a systematic literature review of neuroimaging studies. Brain sciences, 2[3], 347-374. doi:10.3390/brainsci2030347
12. Kim, S. H., Baik, S. H., Park, C. S., Kim, S. J., Choi, S. W., et al. [2011]. Reduced striatal dopamine D2 receptors in people with Internet addiction. Neuroreport, 22[8], 407-411. doi:10.1097/WNR.0b013e328346e16e
13. Hou, H., Jia, S., Hu, S., Fan, R., Sun, W., et al. [2012]. Reduced striatal dopamine transporters in people with internet addiction disorder. BioMed Research International, 2012: 854524. doi:10.1155/2012/854524
14. Coëffec, A., Romo, L., Cheze, N., Riazuelo, H., Plantey, S., et al. [2015]. Early substance consumption and problematic use of video games in adolescence. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 501. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00501
15. Van Rooij, A. J., Kuss, D. J., Griffiths, M. D., Shorter, G. W., Schoenmakers, T. M., et al. [2014]. The [co-] occurrence of problematic video gaming, substance use, and psychosocial problems in adolescents. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 3[3], 157-165. doi:10.1556/jba.3.2014.013
16. Porter, G., Starcevic, V., Berle, D., & Fenech, P. [2010]. Recognizing problem video game use. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 44[2], 120-128. doi:10.3109/00048670903279812
17. Schmitt, Z. L., & Livingston, M. G. [2015]. Video game addiction and college performance among males: results from a 1 year longitudinal study. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 18[1], 25-29. doi:10.1089/cyber.2014.0403
18. Longman, H., O’Connor, E., & Obst, P. [2009]. The effect of social support derived from World of Warcraft on negative psychological symptoms. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 12[5], 563-566. doi:10.1089/cpb.2009.0001
19. Festl, R., Scharkow, M., & Quandt, T. [2013]. Problematic computer game use among adolescents, younger and older adults. Addiction, 108[3], 592-599. doi:10.1111/add.12016
20. Kim, N. R., Hwang, S. S. H., Choi, J. S., Kim, D. J., Demetrovics, Z., et al. [2016]. Characteristics and psychiatric symptoms of Internet gaming disorder among adults using self-reported DSM-5 criteria. Psychiatry Investigation, 13[1], 58-66. doi:10.4306/pi.2016.13.1.58
21. Mehroof, M., & Griffiths, M. D. [2010]. Online gaming addiction: the role of sensation seeking, self-control, neuroticism, aggression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 13[3], 313-316. doi:10.1089/cyber.2009.0229
22. Brunborg, G. S., Mentzoni, R. A., & Frøyland, L. R. [2014]. Is video gaming, or video game addiction, associated with depression, academic achievement, heavy episodic drinking, or conduct problems? Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 3[1], 27-32. doi:10.1556/jba.3.2014.002
23. Carnagey, N. L., Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. [2007]. The effect of video game violence on physiological desensitization to real-life violence. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43[3], 489-496. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2006.05.003
24. Mentzoni, R. A., Brunborg, G. S., Molde, H., Myrseth, H., Skouverøe, K. J. M., et al. [2011]. Problematic video game use: estimated prevalence and associations with mental and physical health. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 14[10], 591-596. doi:10.1089/cyber.2010.0260
25. Wartberg, L., Kriston, L., & Thomasius, R. [2017]. The prevalence and psychosocial correlates of internet gaming disorder: analysis in a nationally representative sample of 12-to 25-Year-Olds. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 114[25], 419-424. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0419
26. Wu, A. M., Chen, J. H., Tong, K. K., Yu, S., & Lau, J. T. [2018]. Prevalence and associated factors of Internet gaming disorder among community dwelling adults in Macao, China. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 7[1], 62-69. doi:10.1556/2006.7.2018.12
27. Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. [1985]. Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98[2], 310-357. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.98.2.310
28. Thoits, P. A. [1986]. Social support as coping assistance. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54[4], 416–423. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.54.4.416
29. Burleigh, T. L., Stavropoulos, V., Liew, L. W., Adams, B. L., & Griffiths, M. D. [2018]. Depression, internet gaming disorder, and the moderating effect of the gamer-avatar relationship: An exploratory longitudinal study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 16[1], 102-124. doi:10.1007/s11469-017-9806-3
30. Rehbein, F., Psych, G., Kleimann, M., Mediasci, G., & Mößle, T. [2010]. Prevalence and risk factors of video game dependency in adolescence: results of a German nationwide survey. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 13[3], 269-277. doi:10.1089/cyber.2009.0227
31. Loton, D., Borkoles, E., Lubman, D., & Polman, R. [2016]. Video game addiction, engagement and symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety: The mediating role of coping. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 14[4], 565-578. doi:10.1007/s11469-015-9578-6
32. Stavropoulos, V., Gentile, D., & Motti-Stefanidi, F. [2016]. A multilevel longitudinal study of adolescent Internet addiction: The role of obsessive–compulsive symptoms and classroom openness to experience. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 13[1], 99-114. doi:10.1080/17405629.2015.1066670
33. Spada, M. M. [2014]. An overview of problematic Internet use. Addictive Behaviors, 39[1], 3-6. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.09.007
34. King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., & Griffiths, M. D. [2012]. Clinical interventions for technology-based problems: Excessive Internet and video game use. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 26[1], 43-56. doi:10.1891/0889-8391.26.1.43
35. Wittek, C. T., Finserås, T. R., Pallesen, S., Mentzoni, R. A., Hanss, D., et al. [2016]. Prevalence and predictors of video game addiction: A study based on a national representative sample of gamers. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 14[5], 672-686. doi:10.1007/s11469-015-9592-8
36. Király, O., Griffiths, M. D., & Demetrovics, Z. [2015]. Internet gaming disorder and the DSM-5: Conceptualization, debates, and controversies. Current Addiction Reports, 2[3], 254-262. doi:10.1007/s40429-015-0066-7
37. Chiu, Y. C., Pan, Y. C., & Lin, Y. H. [2018]. Chinese adaptation of the Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test and prevalence estimate of Internet gaming disorder among adolescents in Taiwan. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 7[3], 719-726. doi:10.1556/2006.7.2018.92
38. Wang, C. W., Chan, C. L., Mak, K. K., Ho, S. Y., Wong, P. W., et al. [2014]. Prevalence and correlates of video and internet gaming addiction among Hong Kong adolescents: a pilot study. The Scientific World Journal, 2014, 874648. doi:10.1155/2014/874648
39. Gentile, D. A., Choo, H., Liau, A., Sim, T., Li, D., et al. [2011]. Pathological video game use among youths: a two-year longitudinal study. Pediatrics, 127[2], e319-e329. doi:10.1542/peds.2010-1353
40. Petry, N. M., Rehbein, F., Gentile, D. A., Lemmens, J. S., Rumpf, H. J., et al. [2014]. An international consensus for assessing internet gaming disorder using the new DSM‐5 approach. Addiction, 109[9], 1399-1406. doi:10.1111/add.12457
41. Pontes, H. M., Macur, M., & Griffiths, M. D. [2016]. Internet gaming disorder among Slovenian primary schoolchildren: Findings from a nationally representative sample of adolescents. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5[2], 304-310. doi:10.1556/2006.5.2016.042
42. Sugaya, N., Shirasaka, T., Takahashi, K., & Kanda, H. [2019]. Bio-psychosocial factors of children and adolescents with internet gaming disorder: a systematic review. BioPsychoSocial medicine, 13[3]. doi:10.1186/s13030-019-0144-5
43. Gorodnichenko, Y., & Roland, G. [2012]. Understanding the individualism-collectivism cleavage and its effects: Lessons from cultural psychology. In Institutions and Comparative Economic Development [pp. 213-236]. Palgrave Macmillan. doi:10.1057/9781137034014_12
44. Fuligni, A. J., Yip, T., & Tseng, V. [2002]. The impact of family obligation on the daily activities and psychological well‐being of Chinese American adolescents. Child Development, 73[1], 302-314. doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00407
45. Kim, B. K., Li, L. C., & Ng, G. F. [2005]. The Asian American values scale–multidimensional: development, reliability, and validity. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 11[3], 187-201. doi:10.1037/1099-9809.11.3.187
46. Rao, Y. [2015]. Coming of Age with Internet Addiction in China—An Ethnographic Study of Institutional Encounters and Subject Formation. Doctoral dissertation, MA Thesis.
47. Lian, Z., Wallace, B., & Fullilove, R. [2020]. Mental health help-seeking intentions among Chinese international students in the U.S. higher education system: The role of coping self-efficacy, social support, and stigma for seeking psychological help. Asian American Journal of Psychology. doi:10.1037/aap0000183
48. Yang, L. H., Kleinman, A., Link, B. G., Phelan, J. C., Lee, S., et al. [2007]. Culture and stigma: Adding moral experience to stigma theory. Social Science & Medicine, 64[7], 1524-1535. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.11.013
49. World Health Organization. [2017]. Depression and other common mental disorders: global health estimates Authors
50. Parker, G., Gladstone, G., & Chee, K. T. [2001]. Depression in the planet’s largest ethnic group: the Chinese. American Journal of Psychiatr, 158[6], 857-864. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.158.6.857
51. Que, J., Lu, L., & Shi, L. [2019]. Development and challenges of mental health in China. General Psychiatry, 32[1], e100053. doi:10.1136/gpsych-2019-100053
52. Li, L., Xu, D. D., Chai, J. X., Wang, D., Li, L., et al. [2018]. Prevalence of Internet addiction disorder in Chinese university students: A comprehensive meta-analysis of observational studies. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 73[3], 610-623. doi:10.1556/2006.7.2018.53
53. Pontes, H. M., & Griffiths, M. D. [2015]. Measuring DSM-5 Internet gaming disorder: Development and validation of a short psychometric scale. Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 137-143. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2014.12.006
54. Mak, K. K., Lai, C. M., Watanabe, H., Kim, D. I., Bahar, N., et al. [2014]. Epidemiology of internet behaviors and addiction among adolescents in six Asian countries. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 17[11], 720-728. doi:10.1089/cyber.2014.0139
55. China Internet Network Information Center. [2021]. The 47th Statistical Report on China’s Internet Development. https://www.cnnic.com.cn/IDR/ReportDownloads/202104/P020210420557302172744.pdf
56. Lemmens, J. S., Valkenburg, P. M., & Gentile, D. A. [2015]. The Internet gaming disorder scale. Psychological assessment, 27[2], 567-582. doi:10.1037/pas0000062
57. Lemmens, J. S., Valkenburg, P. M., & Peter, J. [2011]. The effects of pathological gaming on aggressive behavior. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40[1], 38-47. doi:10.1007/s10964-010-9558-x
58. Engelhardt, C. R., Bartholow, B. D., Kerr, G. T., & Bushman, B. J. [2011]. This is your brain on violent video games: Neural desensitization to violence predicts increased aggression following violent video game exposure. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47[5], 1033-1036. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2011.03.027
59. Lo, S. K., Wang, C. C., & Fang, W. [2005]. Physical interpersonal relationships and social anxiety among online game players. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 8[1], 15-20. doi:10.1089/cpb.2005.8.15
60. Beranuy, M., Carbonell, X., & Griffiths, M. D. [2013]. A qualitative analysis of online gaming addicts in treatment International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 11[2], 149-161. doi:10.1007/s11469-012-9405-2
61. Pinna, F., Dell’Osso, B., Di Nicola, M., Janiri, L., Altamura, A. C., et al. [2015]. Behavioural addictions and the transition from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5. Journal of Psychopathology, 21[4], 380-389.
62. Cole, H., & Griffiths, M. D. [2007]. Social interactions in massively multiplayer online role-playing gamers. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10[4], 575-583. doi:10.1089/cpb.2007.9988