Internet gaming disorder and comorbidities among campus-dwelling U.S. university students. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ohayon, Maurice M.; Roberts, Laura
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 302(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Internet addiction -- Sleep disorders -- Social anxiety disorder; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Internet Gaming Disorder is frequent in undergraduate and graduate students. Internet Gaming Disorder is associated with a non-restorative sleep and excessive daytime fatigue. Internet Gaming Disorder is also closely related to Major Depressive Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder. Spending time on the internet could be a way to cope with social isolation. Abstract: This study investigates the prevalence and associations of DSM-5 Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) with sleep impairment, daytime functioning, psychiatric disorders, and health status among young adults living in student houses on the campus of an American university. A random sample of students living on the campus underwent phone interviews during the 2007 & 2015 academic years. The sample included 1, 871 undergraduate and 1, 113 graduate students (2, 984 in total). Students were considered to have IGD if they recreationally spent ≥15 hours per week on an electronic device (39.4% of the students) and displayed ≥5 addiction-related symptoms; 5.3% of the sample met these 2 criteria. In bivariate analyses, IGD students had a greater proportion of suicidal thoughts (16.9% vs. 6.6%), suicide attempts (9.7% vs. 3.3%), major depressive disorder (9.7% vs. 3.0%), and social anxiety disorder (24.8% vs. 8.5%) than the no-IGD group. In multivariate analyses, IGD predicted non-restorative sleep, excessive fatigue, less close friends, depressive mood, bipolar disorder, social anxiety disorder, and a poor to fair health status. IGD is highly prevalent in this student population, affecting one in 20 students. IGD was associated with a variety of sleep, psychiatric, and health factors which may impact functioning and academic performance.