Prevalence and Interpersonal Correlates of Internet Gaming Disorders among Chinese Adolescents

Xue Yang, Xuewen Jiang, Phoenix Kit-han Mo, Yong Cai, Le Ma and Joseph Tak-fai Lau
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Xue Yang: Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Xuewen Jiang: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Phoenix Kit-han Mo: Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Yong Cai: School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
Le Ma: School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiao Tong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, China
Joseph Tak-fai Lau: Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: This study investigated the prevalence and interpersonal correlates of Internet gaming disorders (IGD) among Chinese adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in two cities (Shanghai and Xi’an) in China. A total of 2666 (Mean age = 12.77 ± 0.75) year-one students from eight middle schools completed a self-reported questionnaire. It tested their levels of IGD, parental psychological control, negative interpersonal events (physical/verbal abuse by parents, verbal abuse by teachers, peer/online bullying), social support from parents/peers, and positive relationships with parents/peers. Results showed that 346 participants (13.0%) were classified as having IGD. Gender, city, single-parent family, family socio-economic status, and mother’s education level were significantly associated with the risk of IGD. Logistic regression analyses with and without controlling for the significant background variables showed that the studied interpersonal variables were significantly associated with IGD, respectively. Forward stepwise logistic regression showed that the significant correlates of IGD included parental psychological control, physical/verbal abuse by parents, verbal abuse by teachers, and peer/online bullying. Results highlight the importance of addressing interpersonal risk factors to reduce adolescent IGD. Limitations and implications of this study are discussed.

Keywords: adolescent IGD; parental factors; peers; teachers; protective factors; risk factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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