Role of Gaming Devices Associated With Internet Gaming Disorder in China: Cross-sectional Study

Yifan Li; Ying Tang; Shucai Huang; Linxiang Tan; Qiuping Huang; Xinxin Chen; Shuhong Lin; Jingyue Hao; Zhenjiang Liao; Hongxian Shen

doi:10.2196/40130

Role of Gaming Devices Associated With Internet Gaming Disorder in China: Cross-sectional Study

JMIR Serious Games. 2023 Jan 16:11:e40130. doi: 10.2196/40130.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
² Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People's Hospital of Wuhu, Wuhu, China.
³ Education Center for Mental Health, Central South University, Changsha, China.
⁴ Department of Applied Psychology, School of Humanities and Management, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 36645700
PMCID: PMC9947841
DOI: 10.2196/40130

Abstract

Background: Chinese gamers use computer and mobile phone games widely. Consequently, concerns regarding the development of internet gaming disorder (IGD) in adolescents have been raised. However, only a few studies have focused on the influence of gaming devices on IGD.

Objective: This study aims to compare sociodemographic information, gaming use characteristics, personality traits, and gaming motivations between computer game users (CGUs) and mobile phone game users (MGUs), as well as identifying IGD predictors.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 3593 internet game players took part in an online survey, which included sociodemographic information, gaming patterns, gaming motivations, the Chinese version of the Video Game Dependency Scale, and the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory brief version. The population was divided into 2 groups for comparison by mobile phone or computer use, and the IGD population was also compared within the 2 groups.

Results: There were significant differences between the 2 gaming device groups in the time (t₂₉₉₄=7.75, P<.001) and money (t₂₉₉₄=5.11, P<.001) spent on gaming and in internet game addiction scores (t₂₉₉₄=3.68, P<.001). Individuals using different gaming devices had different game motivations and personality traits and preferred different genres of games. Results showed that IGD predictors were different for the 2 groups, for example, strategy (odds ratio [OR] 4.452, 95% CI 1.938-10.227; P<.001) and action shooter (OR 3.725, 95% CI 1.465-9.474; P=.01) games increased the risk for MGUs.

Conclusions: Gaming devices should be considered during early identification, such as long daily gaming time, much money spent on gaming, neuroticism, and conscientiousness. In addition, more research should be conducted on new gaming devices and IGD treatment.

Keywords: gaming device; gaming motivation; gaming use characteristics; internet gaming disorder; personality traits.

©Yifan Li, Ying Tang, Shucai Huang, Linxiang Tan, Qiuping Huang, Xinxin Chen, Shuhong Lin, Jingyue Hao, Zhenjiang Liao, Hongxian Shen. Originally published in JMIR Serious Games (https://games.jmir.org), 16.01.2023.