Shan Wang , Xiaoru Zhu , Xiaomin Wang , Lingfeng Gao , Haide Chen
{"title":"The desire trap: Metacognitions and the cognitive mechanisms of adolescent online gaming craving","authors":"Shan Wang , Xiaoru Zhu , Xiaomin Wang , Lingfeng Gao , Haide Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108516","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108516","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Craving is widely recognized as a central feature of addiction. Although internet gaming disorder is notably prevalent among adolescents, the mechanisms that lead to the development of craving for online gaming are not well understood. This study investigated the mediating role of desire thinking and thought suppression in the link between adolescents’ positive and negative metacognitions about online gaming and their craving for it. The study evaluated 991 Chinese adolescents utilizing the Metacognitions about Online Gaming Scale, Desire Thinking Questionnaire, Thought Suppression Inventory, and Craving Assessment Scale. Results showed that desire thinking and thought suppression partially mediated the link between both positive and negative metacognitions and craving, with desire thinking exhibiting a stronger indirect effect than thought suppression. The study indicates that both positive and negative metacognitions are associated with adolescent online gaming craving via similar cognitive pathways, with desire thinking being a significant factor. This study highlights the potential of targeting metacognitive processes in future interventions for internet gaming disorder, emphasizing the need for intervention strategies tailored to address desire thinking.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7155,"journal":{"name":"Addictive behaviors","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 108516"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145294509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yanqiu Yu , Siman Li , Xinwei Lyu , Jianxin Zhang , Ji-bin Li , Joseph T.F. Lau
{"title":"A cross-lagged panel model of the bidirectional relationships between gaming-specific maladaptive cognitions and internet gaming disorder among adolescents in China","authors":"Yanqiu Yu , Siman Li , Xinwei Lyu , Jianxin Zhang , Ji-bin Li , Joseph T.F. Lau","doi":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108518","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108518","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The directions of the causal relationships between gaming-specific maladaptive cognitions (MCIG) and internet gaming disorder (IGD) are implicative but unclear, with few longitudinal studies in this regard. Bidirectional relationships are plausible, as suggested by the Cognitive Behavioral Model of Pathological Internet Use and Cognitive Dissonance Theory. This 12-month two-wave longitudinal study was conducted among 1857 junior middle school students in two Chinese cities to investigate the reciprocal relationships between three domains of MCIG (perceived overevaluation of rewards, perceived urges, and perceived reluctance to stop playing) and IGD. The prevalence of IGD was 10.0 % at Wave 1 (W1) and 9.6 % at Wave 2 (W2). Cross-lagged panel analysis revealed that IGD at W1 significantly predicted all three domains of MCIG at W2. However, among the three MCIG domains, only perceived urges at W1 significantly predicted IGD at W2. Bidirectional relationships were identified between perceived overvaluation of rewards and perceived reluctance to stop playing. Perceived reluctance to stop playing predicted perceived urges, but the reverse was not true. Relationships between perceived overvaluation of rewards and perceived urges were not statistically significant in either direction. In conclusion, significant bidirectional relationships were observed between one domain of MCIG and IGD, as well as between one pair of MCIG; not all MCIG domains were risk factors of IGD. These findings highlight the importance of targeting specific MCIG to disrupt potential vicious cycles. Caution is warranted when interpreting cross-sectional associations, and future longitudinal studies with additional points are recommended for verification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7155,"journal":{"name":"Addictive behaviors","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 108518"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145263036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wangjia Zhang , Qi Li , Xiaoyan Chen , Ya Zhu , Xuliang Shi
{"title":"Self-compassion mediates the relationship between family (but not peer) support and internet gaming disorder symptoms: a five-wave, random intercept cross-lagged panel model","authors":"Wangjia Zhang , Qi Li , Xiaoyan Chen , Ya Zhu , Xuliang Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108517","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108517","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although previous studies have suggested that individuals with low self-compassion from dysfunctional families<!--> <!-->are at higher risks of developing online gaming addiction, the distinction between between-person differences and within-person effects in these associations has not been fully explored. This longitudinal study examined the reciprocal relations between social support and internet gaming disorder symptoms (IGDs), as well as the potential mediating role of self-compassion, while differentiating between- and within-person effects. A total of 5785 students (48.2 % of female, <em>M</em><sub>age</sub> = 18.63, <em>SD</em> = 0.88) participated in a large-scale health-related cohort study of college students. The random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) was used for data analysis. The findings revealed a reciprocal within-person relationship between family support and self-compassion. Self-compassion played a significant longitudinal mediating role in the association between family (but not peer) support and IGDs at the within-person level. These findings emphasize self-compassion as a key psychological mechanism in the relations between family support and IGDs. Future prevention and intervention programs targeted at bolstering family support and cultivating self-compassion may be effective in mitigating the risk of online gaming addiction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7155,"journal":{"name":"Addictive behaviors","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 108517"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145260206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unveiling the relationships between solitary experiences and problematic social media use in young adults: a network approach to investigating underlying motivations","authors":"Gianluca Santoro , Andrea Zagaria , Mattia Pezzi , Paola Corsano , Alessio Gori , Alessandro Musetti","doi":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108508","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108508","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous research has shown that subjective and negative solitary experiences, such as loneliness, are associated with increased problematic social media use (PSMU). However, further research is needed to examine the role of other solitary experiences and motivations for solitary behavior in PSMU. Accordingly, the current study investigated the relationships between various solitary experiences (i.e., trait loneliness, perceived isolation, lack of relational connectedness, positive solitude, and frequency of solitary behavior), motivations for solitary behavior (i.e., autonomous and controlled), motives for social media use (i.e., enhancement, coping, conformity, and social), and core and peripheral symptoms of PSMU in young adults. Eight hundred twenty-nine young adults (65 % females), aged 18 to 30 years (<em>M</em> = 23.76, <em>SD</em> = 3.16), completed self-report measures assessing the variables of interest. Psychometric network analysis was performed to estimate regularized partial correlations among variables across the entire sample. Gender differences in network properties were evaluated using the network comparison test. Results showed that controlled motivations for solitary behavior and perceived isolation were indirectly linked to core symptoms of PSMU through conformity motives. Additionally, perceived isolation was also associated with core PSMU symptoms through coping motives. No significant gender differences were found in the network properties. These findings suggest that PSMU might serve as a maladaptive strategy to temporarily compensate for involuntary solitary experiences and to seek relief from perceived isolation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7155,"journal":{"name":"Addictive behaviors","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 108508"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145263039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Camilla K.M. Lo , Edward W.W. Chan , Yuet Wing Cho
{"title":"An ecological momentary assessment of adolescents’ affective states and game craving","authors":"Camilla K.M. Lo , Edward W.W. Chan , Yuet Wing Cho","doi":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108510","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108510","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and Aims</h3><div>Craving plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of addiction, including gaming disorder. While affective states are associated with cravings in substance-related use and disorders, the relationship between affect and game craving remains understudied. This study employs an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) approach to investigate how momentary positive and negative affect are related to game craving in adolescents, and whether these associations vary by individual differences in gaming disorder risk.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 317 Hong Kong Chinese adolescents who self-reported as regular gamers completed a pre-EMA survey, followed by a 14-day EMA protocol. Participants reported their momentary positive affect, negative affect, and game craving at four time points daily.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>At the within-person level, elevated momentary positive and negative affect were significantly associated with increased odds of game craving. However, adolescents at higher risk for gaming disorder showed a reversed pattern, reporting reduced craving when experiencing greater affect intensity than their personal average.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion and Conclusions</h3><div>These findings illustrate the complex dynamics between affect and game craving, highlighting the moderating role of an individual's gaming disorder risk. Understanding how affect interacts with game craving in real-word setting may inform targeted interventions for adolescents vulnerable to problematic gaming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7155,"journal":{"name":"Addictive behaviors","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 108510"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145263038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ziwei Ren , Hui Lu , Peng Zheng , Huijuan Lu , Zixin Su , Ziyou Huang , Yun Wu
{"title":"Reciprocal relationships among problematic social media use, depression, and social anxiety of Chinese university students: Disentangling between- and within-person effects","authors":"Ziwei Ren , Hui Lu , Peng Zheng , Huijuan Lu , Zixin Su , Ziyou Huang , Yun Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108515","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108515","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The associations between problematic social media use (PSMU), depression, and social anxiety (SA) remain a topic of debate. Hence, this study investigated the bidirectional longitudinal relationships of PSMU with depression and SA in a sample of Chinese university students, with an additional emphasis on potential sex differences. A total of 378 students (56.3 % male, 43.7 % female; Mage = 20.49 years, SD = 0.65) completed three waves of survey data. Random Intercept Cross-lagged panel model analysis and multi-group analysis by sex were conducted. At the within-person level, a reciprocal relationship was observed between PSMU and depression over time. Furthermore, SA predicted later increases in PSMU, whereas the reverse associations were not significant. These results highlight the dynamic interplay among emotional symptoms and digital behavior, and underscore the importance of considering both individual differences and temporal fluctuations in future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7155,"journal":{"name":"Addictive behaviors","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 108515"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145246142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Matthew Browne , Catherine Tulloch , Matthew Rockloff , Nerilee Hing , Alex M.T. Russell , En Li , Vijay Rawat , Georgia Dellosa , Philip Newall
{"title":"The 10-item and 20-item gambling harms scale for affected others (GHS-10-AO, GHS-20-AO): benchmarked to health utility using propensity weighting and control for comorbidities","authors":"Matthew Browne , Catherine Tulloch , Matthew Rockloff , Nerilee Hing , Alex M.T. Russell , En Li , Vijay Rawat , Georgia Dellosa , Philip Newall","doi":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108513","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108513","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gambling-related harms significantly impact not only gamblers but also people socially connected to them (affected others or AOs), yet quantifying these impacts has remained challenging. This study developed and validated two scales for measuring harm to people due to someone else’s gambling − the 10-item and 20-item Gambling Harms Scale for Affected Others (GHS-10-AO and GHS-20-AO) − benchmarked to health utility metrics. Using data from 2,018 Australian adults with close relationships to gamblers, we employed psychometric item selection, propensity weighting, and control for comorbidities to establish evidence for causal links between reported harms and health utility decrements measured by the SF-6D. Emotional, relational, and financial harms were the most prevalent items selected. Both scales demonstrated excellent reliability (α = 0.89 for GHS-10-AO; α = 0.94 for GHS-20-AO) and strong correlations with health utility measures (r = -0.47 to −0.48 with SF-6D). The relationship between harm scores and health utility showed significant non-linearity, with increasing convexity at higher harm levels. These scales provide the first validated instruments for quantifying health impacts to AOs using a common metric comparable to gambler-focused harm measures, enabling population-level assessment of current gambling harm in the adult population; inclusive of gamblers and connected others. The instruments fill a critical gap in gambling harm measurement and offer jurisdictions tools for monitoring progress toward harm minimisation that encompasses impacts on both gamblers and those around them.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7155,"journal":{"name":"Addictive behaviors","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 108513"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145214143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Experiential avoidance as a prospective mediator of the relationship between problematic smartphone use and autistic traits, theory of mind: Temporal mediation models","authors":"Gizem Gerdan , Özge Akgül , Yılmaz Orhun Gürlük","doi":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108509","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108509","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing use of smartphones has raised concerns about adverse psychological and social-cognitive outcomes among young people. This study aimed to prospectively examine the relationships between problematic smartphone use (PSU), experiential avoidance (EA), screen time, autistic traits (ATs), and theory of mind (ToM), and to test the mediating role of EA within a temporal design. Data were collected prospectively from 219 young adults (aged 18–35; <em>M</em> = 20.66, <em>SD</em> = 2.15) across three measurement points at one-week intervals. At Time 1 (T1), participants reported their weekly screen time and completed baseline measures of PSU, ATs, and ToM. At Time 2 (T2), the measure of EA was administered. At Time 3 (T3), final measures of ATs and ToM were administered. The results indicated that higher levels of PSU at T1 prospectively predicted an increase in EA at T2, which in turn prospectively predicted higher levels of ATs and lower levels of ToM at T3. Similarly, greater screen time at T1 also prospectively predicted an increase in EA at T2, leading to higher levels of ATs and lower levels of ToM at T3. The results indicate that experiential avoidance prospectively plays a mediating role in the relationship between PSU, screen time, ToM, and ATs. In the context of today’s increasing digital addiction tendencies, these findings suggest that EA is a potentially important transdiagnostic variable to consider in assessments and interventions aimed at supporting socio-cognitive and emotional functioning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7155,"journal":{"name":"Addictive behaviors","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 108509"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145358666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Janni Leung , Benjamin Johnson , John B. Saunders , Daniel Stjepanovic , Varun Yazad Patel , Caitlin McClure-Thomas , Jason P. Connor , Gary Chung Kai Chan
{"title":"Game related over-spending across age groups and its association with gaming disorder","authors":"Janni Leung , Benjamin Johnson , John B. Saunders , Daniel Stjepanovic , Varun Yazad Patel , Caitlin McClure-Thomas , Jason P. Connor , Gary Chung Kai Chan","doi":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108490","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108490","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Gaming disorder is a new addictive disorder under the ICD-11. Most of recent research focuses on young people and its impact on mental and physical health. However, it can also have negative financial impacts as in-game microtransaction and esport betting becoming more common, and this impact could be particularly problematic for older people. This study estimates the association between gaming disorder and game-related overspending.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Data were from the 2022 International Gaming Study (IGS22), a multi-country cross sectional survey of 955 individuals aged 18–94 (M = 46; SD = 16; 45 % Male). We estimated the proportion of participants who reported game-related overspending and modelled its association with ICD-11 Gaming Disorder using logistic regression.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>In general, a much smaller but non-negligible proportion of older people (66 years old + ) reported various type of game-related overspending (4 – 9 %) compared to younger age groups. Individuals who are at risk of gaming disorder were at six to nine times higher odds of reporting various type of gaming-related overspending.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study reveals a novel association between gaming disorder and overspending on purchasing games, in-game purchases, and esports betting across various age groups. While young individuals were more likely to report overspending, some older adults were also affected. As the measure reflects self-reported overspending, further research is needed to assess whether this translates into actual financial hardship.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7155,"journal":{"name":"Addictive behaviors","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 108490"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145214739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Veronica L. Richards , Jason A. Oliver , Steven J. Pan , Summer G. Frank-Pearce , Michael A. Smith , Catherine S. Nagawa , Amy M. Cohn
{"title":"Mental health matters? An examination of how anxiety and depression influence the alcohol-e-cigarette use relationship","authors":"Veronica L. Richards , Jason A. Oliver , Steven J. Pan , Summer G. Frank-Pearce , Michael A. Smith , Catherine S. Nagawa , Amy M. Cohn","doi":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108504","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108504","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>E-cigarette use has grown in popularity and is independently associated with alcohol use and mental health (anxiety/depression), but the interactions between alcohol and anxiety/depression with e-cigarette use have not been examined. We examined whether anxiety/depression would influence the association of both alcohol use frequency and heavy episodic drinking (HED) with e-cigarette use frequency, hypothesizing that alcohol use would be more strongly related to e-cigarette use among those with current anxiety/depression.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div><em>N =</em> 11,006 adults (55 % female; 71 % non-Hispanic White, <em>M</em> age = 42) completed assessments of demographics, past 30-day e-cigarette and alcohol use, and current symptoms of anxiety and depression. Regression models including past 30-day e-cigarette users only (<em>N =</em> 2,395) examined the moderating effects of anxiety/depression (yes/no) on the alcohol-e-cigarette frequency relationship, examining alcohol use frequency and HED separately.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>More than one-fifth (21.7 %) of the total sample reported any past 30-day e-cigarette use. Among e-cigarette users, past 30-day alcohol use frequency was associated with e-cigarette use frequency but did not significantly differ by mental health status (<em>IRR =</em> 1.02, 95 % 1.01, 1.02). HED was not associated with e-cigarette use frequency, regardless of mental health status (<em>IRR =</em> 1.02; 95 % CI: 0.93, 1.11).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The relationship between current alcohol use and e-cigarette use frequency was not statistically different between individuals who endorsed current anxiety and/or depression vs. those who did not. Findings support the need to consider other substance use within e-cigarette smoking prevention and cessation efforts. Additional longitudinal research is needed to infer directionality and causality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7155,"journal":{"name":"Addictive behaviors","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 108504"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145194057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}