Associations of binge gaming (5 or more consecutive hours played) with gaming disorder and mental health in young men / Simon Marmet [et al.]
Bibliogr.: p. 300-301. - Abstr. eng. - DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2022.00086
In: Journal of Behavioral Addictions. - ISSN 2062-5871, eISSN 2063-5303. - 2023. 12. évf. 1. sz., p. 295-301. : ill.
Background: Video gaming is a popular activity among young people. Time spent with gaming was found to be only moderately associated with gaming disorder. However, patterns of binge gaming (playing more than 5 h consecutively) were rarely considered in research on gaming. This study explores how binge gaming frequency is related with gaming disorder and mental health. Methods: The sample came from the Cohort study on substance use risk factors (C-SURF) and comprised 5,358 young men aged 28.26 years (SD 5 1.27). ANCOVA was conducted to estimate the association between binge gaming frequency (gaming at least 5 h consecutively) and gaming disorder (measured with the Game Addiction Scale) as well as indicators of mental health. Results: A total of 33.3% of the sample engaged in binge gaming at least once in the previous year, and 6.1% at least weekly. Frequency of binge gaming was associated with gaming disorder score in a linear dose-response relationship (linear trend 5 2.30 [2.14, 2.46]) even if adjusted for time spent gaming (linear trend 5 1.24 [1.03, 1.45). More frequent binge gaming was associated with lower life satisfaction and sleep quality, and with more major depression and social anxiety disorder symptoms. Conclusions: Binge gaming patterns, especially daily or almost daily binge gaming, are important to consider with regard to gaming disorder and mental health. Asking about binge gaming may be a promising screening question for gaming related problems. Encouraging regular breaks from gaming may be a valuable prevention strategy to reduce negative outcomes of gaming. Kulcsszavak: Gaming, Binge gaming, Gaming disorder, mental health, Switzerland