COVID-19-Related Social Isolation, Self-Control, and Internet Gaming Disorder Among Chinese University Students:...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a growing concern among university students globally, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Pandemic-related factors may uniquely influence IGD development in students compared to pre-pandemic periods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationships between social isolation, self-control, and IGD in Chinese university students.
• To determine if self-control mediates the impact of social isolation on IGD.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey of 479 university students in Shandong, China (April-September 2022).
• Utilized validated scales for social isolation, self-control, and IGD.
• Employed PROCESS software (Models 4 & 5) to analyze mediation and moderation effects, including gender.

Main Results:

• Moderate levels of social isolation and self-control were observed, with low IGD prevalence.
• Social isolation positively correlated with IGD (r=0.217, P<.001).
• Self-control negatively correlated with both social isolation (r=-0.355, P<.001) and IGD (r=-0.260, P<.001), and mediated the relationship between social isolation and IGD (β=-.185, 95% CI -.295 to -.087).

Conclusions:

• Self-control significantly mediates the link between social isolation and IGD.
• Gender moderates this association, with males showing a stronger effect of social isolation on IGD.
• Interventions should target reducing social isolation and bolstering self-control to mitigate IGD, especially in male students.