The influence of game genre on Internet gaming disorder

TLDR

Internet gaming disorder has been studied extensively, yet little is known about how different game genres influence IGD risk. This study compares IGD characteristics across four game genres and identifies genre‑specific factors associated with IGD in a large adult sample. Participants (n = 2,923) who regularly played real‑time strategy, MMORPG, sport, or first‑person shooter games completed an anonymous online survey collecting sociodemographic, gameplay, and psychopathology data. MMORPG and FPS players were more likely to meet IGD criteria than sport or RTS players, and the predictors of IGD varied by genre, indicating that IGD is a stable diagnosis across genres but prevention strategies should be tailored to genre‑specific risk factors.

Abstract

Background and aims Although Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been investigated in detail, minimal research has been conducted regarding the influence of different game genres on IGD. The aim of this study is to compare the characteristics of members of game genre-specific groups with IGD and to identify factors associated with IGD status in each group in a large sample of adults. Methods Internet games were categorized into four genres: real-time strategy games, massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG), sport games, and first-person shooter (FPS) games. Participants ( n = 2,923) who usually played one of these games completed an anonymous online survey that collected sociodemographic, game usage pattern, and psychopathological assessment data. Results MMORPG and FPS game players more frequently met the criteria for IGD than participants in the other two groups. Differences between the IGD-suspected gamers within the genre-specific groups were observed for a few items, such as average game-playing time and the subscales of the behavioral activation system; however, the factors that contributed to the development of IGD within each game genre-specific group were found to be considerably different. Discussion and conclusions The findings of this study suggest that IGD is a stable psychiatric diagnosis encompassing users of a broad range of game genres. In addition, the development of strategies for the prevention of and early intervention on individuals at high risk for developing IGD may require consideration of the distinct characteristics identified as effective predictors of IGD in users of each game genre.