Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Online Gamers
Published on: November 9, 2019
Gaming Disorder: The role of a gamers flow profile
Trent Footitt1, Natasha Christofi1, Dylan R Poulus2
1Department of Psychology, Applied Health, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract:
Digital games are widely popular and integral to contemporary entertainment. Nevertheless, a proportion of users present with disordered/excessive gaming behaviours, provisionally classified as Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). Previous literature suggests examining the contribution of an individual's profile of immersive engagement with their gaming activity, known as online flow, for disordered gaming behaviours. Therefore, the main goals of this study were (1) to categorise gamers into distinct profiles based on their online flow experiences and (2) to investigate the differences in disordered gaming among these different flow profiles. A sample of 565 gamers (12-68 years, Mage = 29.3 years) was assessed twice over six months with the Online Flow Questionnaire (OFQ), the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF), and the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT). Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified five distinct profiles encompassing 'High-Flow with High Loss of Control' (HF-HLOC; 14.0 %), 'Low Flow with Low Enjoyment' (LF-LE; 11.9 %), 'Average Flow with Low Enjoyment' (AF-LE; 17.5 %), 'Low Flow with High Enjoyment' (LF-HE; 20.2 %), and 'High Loss of Sense of Time with Low Loss of Control' groups (HLOT-LLOC; 36.5 %). As hypothesised, individuals across varying profiles evidenced differences in their concurrent and longitudinal disordered gaming behaviours. Overall, findings suggest that 'loss of sense of time' may be the most pivotal factor in differentiating flow states and profiles during gaming, advocating its consideration in disordered gaming assessment and treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Social Scripts
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Optimal Arousal Theory
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...
Social Facilitation
Introduction to Psychological Disorders
Deviant Behavior
Deviance in behavior refers to actions or thought patterns that significantly diverge from societal norms or...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....

