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Asia-Pacific psychiatry : official journal of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists
Jun, 2022;14 (2): e12474.

The role of internet gaming in the association between anxiety and depression: A preliminary cross-sectional study.

Vasileios Stavropoulos, Jeremy Vassallo, Tyrone Leonard Burleigh, Rapson Gomez, Michelle Colder Carras
Author Information
  1. Vasileios Stavropoulos: Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
  2. Jeremy Vassallo: Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
  3. Tyrone Leonard Burleigh: The International Gaming Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK. ORCID
  4. Rapson Gomez: School of Psychology, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
  5. Michelle Colder Carras: Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
PMID: 34013597 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12474

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Disordered Internet gaming is thought to be perpetuated by one's need to escape their real-life distress or mental health symptoms, which may in turn generate depressive feelings. Nevertheless, moderate engagement with Internet games has also been suggested to provide relief, thus improving one's mood. This study aspires to clarify the contribution of Internet gaming and gender in the association between anxiety and depression.
METHODS: A large sample of Internet gamers (N = 964) were recruited online. Disordered Internet gaming was assessed with the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, 9 Items Short Form (IGD9S-SF). Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, 21 items (DASS-21).
RESULTS: Regression, moderation and moderated moderation analyses accounting for the effects of gender on the relationship between disordered gaming, anxiety, and depression found a significant effect for anxiety symptoms on depression symptoms and a significant interaction between anxiety and Internet gaming disorder on depression symptoms. Findings support the theory that although anxious gamers bear a higher depression risk, this is buffered with lower and exacerbated with higher disordered gaming symptoms.
CONCLUSION: Findings suggest a dual role of Internet gaming in the association between anxiety and depression, depending on the intensity of one's disordered gaming symptoms. Depression prevention and intervention protocols should be optimized by considering the effects of Internet gaming among anxious gamers by focusing on the intensity of a gamer's involvement and any gaming disorder symptoms. Further research should include clinical samples to better understand this interaction.

Keywords

anxiety depression excessive gaming internet gaming disorder regression analysis

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Grants

  1. DE210101107/Australian Research Council, Discovery Early Career Researcher Aw

MeSH Term

Anxiety
Behavior, Addictive
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Humans
Internet
Video Games
Journal Article
Article has an altmetric score of 3

Word Cloud

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