Investigating risk factors for internet gaming disorder: impulsivity, ADHD, behavioural inhibition / activation, weekly gameplay and inhibitory control

The recent decision by the World Health Organization to recognise Gaming Disorder as a behavioural addiction requires a shift in research focus towards its predisposing factors and progression. The Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model is an emerging theory to explain the onset of disordered gaming by examining interactions between predisposing factors, moderators, and mediators combined with reduced executive functioning. The current study aimed to examine associations between various risk factors for disordered gaming and the development of IGD symptoms. A sample of 113 participants (75.2% female, mean age 22.5 years) completed measures of internet gaming disorder (IGD), impulsivity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), behavioural inhibition/activation (BIS/BAS) and weekly gameplay. A subsample of 30 participants (90.9% female, mean age 23.2 years) completed a combined Flanker/go-nogo task. In the first sample, impulsivity and weekly playtime significantly predicted IGD scores. In the second sample, IGD scores were not significantly associated with measures of inhibitory control deficits. This study supports previous findings that impulsivity and gaming time are significant risk factors for developing IGD symptoms. Future replication comparing groups with low and high IGD symptomology combined with neuroimaging may provide more substantial evidence for risk factors associated with the development of gaming addiction.<p></p>