Whether and How Parental and Friends ’ Internet Gaming Behaviors May Affect Adolescent Internet Gaming Disorder Symptoms: the Cognitive and Behavioral Mechanisms

AbstractPresent study examined associations between perceived parental and friends ’ internet gaming behaviors and adolescent internet gaming disorder (IGD) and the mediating roles of adolescents’ gaming-related cognitions (cognitive preoccupation with internet gaming [CPIG]) and behaviors (IG time) in the associations. A total of 2,413 adolescents were surveyed in Hong Kong f rom February to December 2021. The proposed mediation model was examined by structural equation modelling (SEM). The SEM model fitted data well and the results showed that perceived father’s and mother’s frequencies of IG were positively associated with adolescent IGD symptoms indirectly through adolescent IG time; perceived friends’ frequency of IG was positively associated with adolescent IGD symptoms directly and indirectly through adolescents’ IG time and CPIG. The findings support the social learning theory of the development of IGD and illuminate the potential pathways. Family an d interpersonal therapies that also modify parental and friends’ gaming behaviors may efficiently reduce adolescent IGD.
Source: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction - Category: Addiction Source Type: research