Problem gaming and suicidality: A systematic literature review.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• The relationship between problem gaming and suicidality lacks synthesized evidence.
• Problem gaming is a growing concern with potential public health implications.
• Understanding this link is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on the association between problem gaming and suicidality.
• To synthesize current evidence regarding problem gaming and suicidal ideation/attempts.
• To identify gaps in the research for future studies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across multiple databases (Web of Science, PsycINFO, EMBASE, PubMed, Google Scholar) from 2000-2021.
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies examining problem gaming and suicidality in European languages.
• Data extraction and risk of bias assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.

Main Results:

• 12 cross-sectional studies with 88,732 participants were included.
• 11 out of 12 studies reported positive crude associations between problem gaming and suicidal ideation/attempts.
• After adjusting for confounders, 3 studies still found significant associations, while others showed non-significant trends.

Conclusions:

• Evidence suggests an association between problem gaming and suicidal ideation, and likely suicide attempts.
• The primary limitation is the cross-sectional nature of the included studies, precluding causal inference.
• Future research should employ longitudinal designs to explore causality and underlying mechanisms.