Internet Gaming Disorder Clustering Based on Personality Traits in Adolescents, and Its Relation with Comorbid Psychological Symptoms

Vega González-Bueso, Juan José Santamaría, Ignasi Oliveras, Daniel Fernández, Elena Montero, Marta Baño, Susana Jiménez-Murcia, Amparo del Pino-Gutiérrez and Joan Ribas
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Vega González-Bueso: Atención e Investigación en Socioadicciones (AIS), Mental Health and Addictions Network, Generalitat de Catalunya (XHUB), 08014 Barcelona, Spain
Juan José Santamaría: Atención e Investigación en Socioadicciones (AIS), Mental Health and Addictions Network, Generalitat de Catalunya (XHUB), 08014 Barcelona, Spain
Ignasi Oliveras: Department of Psychiatry & Forensic Medicine, Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
Daniel Fernández: Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, 08830 Barcelona, Spain
Elena Montero: Department of Psychiatry & Forensic Medicine, Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
Marta Baño: Atención e Investigación en Socioadicciones (AIS), Mental Health and Addictions Network, Generalitat de Catalunya (XHUB), 08014 Barcelona, Spain
Susana Jiménez-Murcia: Pathological Gambling Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Amparo del Pino-Gutiérrez: Pathological Gambling Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Joan Ribas: Atención e Investigación en Socioadicciones (AIS), Mental Health and Addictions Network, Generalitat de Catalunya (XHUB), 08014 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: In recent years, the evidence regarding Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) suggests that some personality traits are important risk factors for developing this problem. The heterogeneity involved in problematic online gaming and differences found in the literature regarding the comorbid psychopathology associated with the problem could be explained through different types of gamers. Clustering analysis can allow organization of a collection of personality traits into clusters based on similarity. The objectives of this study were: (1) to obtain an empirical classification of IGD patients according to personality variables and (2) to describe the resultant groups in terms of clinical and sociodemographic variables. The sample included 66 IGD adolescent patients who were consecutive referrals at a mental health center in Barcelona, Spain. A Gaussian mixture model cluster analysis was used in order to classify the subjects based on their personality. Two clusters based on personality traits were detected: type I “higher comorbid symptoms” ( n = 24), and type II “lower comorbid symptoms” ( n = 42). The type I included higher scores in introversive, inhibited, doleful, unruly, forceful, oppositional, self-demeaning and borderline tendency traits, and lower scores in histrionic, egotistic and conforming traits. The type I obtained higher scores on all the Symptom Check List-90 items-Revised, all the State-Trait Anxiety Index scales, and on the DSM-5 IGD criteria. Differences in personality can be useful in determining clusters with different types of dysfunctionality.

Keywords: internet gaming disorder; cluster analysis; video game; video game addiction; personality; comorbidity (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 (1)

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