Internet Gaming Disorder Behaviors in Emergent Adulthood: a Pilot Study Examining the Interplay Between Anxiety and Family Cohesion

AbstractUnderstanding risk and protective factors associated with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been highlighted as a research priority by the American Psychiatric Association, (2013). The present study focused on the potential IGD risk effect of anxiety and the buffering role of family cohesion on this association. A sample of emerging adults all of whom were massively multiplayer online (MMO) gamers (18 –29 years) residing in Australia were assessed longitudinally (face-to-face:N = 61, Mage = 23.02 years, SD = 3.43) and cross-sectionally (online:N = 64, Mage = 23.34 years, SD = 3.39). IGD symptoms were assessed using the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS-SF9; Pontes& GriffithsComputers in Human Behavior, 45, 137 –143.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.12.006,2015). The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Beck and Steer,1990) and the balanced family cohesion scale (BFC; OlsonJournal of Marital& Family Therapy, 3(1) 64 –80.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2009.00175.x,2011) were applied to assess anxiety and BFC levels, respectively. Linear regressions and moderation analyses confirmed that anxiety increased IGD risk and that BFC weakened the anxiety-related IGD risk.
Source: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction - Category: Addiction Source Type: research