Internet gaming disorder and the alternative five factor personality model: a study in a Spanish community sample

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Examining the prevalence of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) behaviors.
• Investigating the relationship between IGD and personality traits.
• Utilizing criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of IGD in a Spanish community sample.
• To explore the association between IGD symptoms and various personality traits.
• To validate the IGD-20 scale as a dimensional measure.

Main Methods:

• A community sample of 1,548 subjects (707 men, 841 women) was evaluated.
• The Internet Gaming Disorder-20 scale (IGD-20) was used to measure IGD symptoms.
• Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to identify personality predictors of IGD.

Main Results:

• Only 0.5% of subjects met the criteria for disordered gaming.
• The IGD-20 scale demonstrated unidimensionality, suitable for correlational studies.
• Low activity, high aggressiveness, introversion, impulsivity, sensation seeking, and neuroticism explained 8% of the variance in IGD-20 scores.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of IGD in Spain aligns with other Western nations.
• The validated IGD-20 scale facilitates research on IGD and personality links.
• Identified personality profiles offer insights into psychological mechanisms underlying IGD.