{"title":"Untangling the digital connection: The longitudinal relationships between social well-being and internet gaming problems in adolescents.","authors":"Haoyu An, Xin Wang, Xue Yang","doi":"10.1177/00207640251354818","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and binge gaming (BG) have evolved into an emerging concern among global children and adolescents. However, studies on the interpersonal/social factors of these internet gaming problems are lacking.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This 1-year two-wave longitudinal study aims to explore the bidirectional causal relationships between social (loneliness and social anxiety) and internet gaming problems (IGD and BG) utilizing cross-lagged models.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cohort of first-year high school students in central China underwent a baseline evaluation in 2018 and a follow-up survey in 2019. IGD, BG, loneliness, and social anxiety were measured by self-reported psychological scales.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of all the participants, 12.3% (148/1,200) and 11.7% (140/1,200) were classified as having IGD at baseline (T1) and follow-up (T2), respectively. Additionally, 13.4% (161/1,200) at T1 and 13.8% (165/1,200) at T2 of the participants were classified to have BG. Social anxiety at T1 was positively associated with IGD (β = .19, <i>p</i> < .001) and BG (β = .18, <i>p</i> < .001) at T2. The reciprocal effects between BG and IGD were significant and positive; BG at T1 was positively associated with IGD at T2 (β = .12, <i>p</i> < .05), and IGD at T1 showed a positive association with BG at T2 (β = .11, <i>p</i> < .05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study illustrates that social anxiety and binge gaming are significant factors of IGD. Monitoring the interpersonal and behavioral indicators to timely identify those adolescents at high risk of developing IGD is of great value.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"207640251354818"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640251354818","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and binge gaming (BG) have evolved into an emerging concern among global children and adolescents. However, studies on the interpersonal/social factors of these internet gaming problems are lacking.
Objectives: This 1-year two-wave longitudinal study aims to explore the bidirectional causal relationships between social (loneliness and social anxiety) and internet gaming problems (IGD and BG) utilizing cross-lagged models.
Methods: A cohort of first-year high school students in central China underwent a baseline evaluation in 2018 and a follow-up survey in 2019. IGD, BG, loneliness, and social anxiety were measured by self-reported psychological scales.
Results: Of all the participants, 12.3% (148/1,200) and 11.7% (140/1,200) were classified as having IGD at baseline (T1) and follow-up (T2), respectively. Additionally, 13.4% (161/1,200) at T1 and 13.8% (165/1,200) at T2 of the participants were classified to have BG. Social anxiety at T1 was positively associated with IGD (β = .19, p < .001) and BG (β = .18, p < .001) at T2. The reciprocal effects between BG and IGD were significant and positive; BG at T1 was positively associated with IGD at T2 (β = .12, p < .05), and IGD at T1 showed a positive association with BG at T2 (β = .11, p < .05).
Conclusions: This study illustrates that social anxiety and binge gaming are significant factors of IGD. Monitoring the interpersonal and behavioral indicators to timely identify those adolescents at high risk of developing IGD is of great value.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, established in 1954, is a leading publication dedicated to the field of social psychiatry. It serves as a platform for the exchange of research findings and discussions on the influence of social, environmental, and cultural factors on mental health and well-being. The journal is particularly relevant to psychiatrists and multidisciplinary professionals globally who are interested in understanding the broader context of psychiatric disorders and their impact on individuals and communities.
Social psychiatry, as a discipline, focuses on the origins and outcomes of mental health issues within a social framework, recognizing the interplay between societal structures and individual mental health. The journal draws connections with related fields such as social anthropology, cultural psychiatry, and sociology, and is influenced by the latest developments in these areas.
The journal also places a special emphasis on fast-track publication for brief communications, ensuring that timely and significant research can be disseminated quickly. Additionally, it strives to reflect its international readership by publishing state-of-the-art reviews from various regions around the world, showcasing the diverse practices and perspectives within the psychiatric disciplines. This approach not only contributes to the scientific understanding of social psychiatry but also supports the global exchange of knowledge and best practices in mental health care.