A cross-lagged panel network model on internet gaming disorder and depressive symptoms concerning preferences for...

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a prevalent behavioral addiction that co-occurs with depression. Little is known about how IGD and depression intercorrelate longitudinally at a symptom level. This study aimed to explore the directional relationships between IGD and depressive symptoms and identify the key symptoms in their comorbidity using cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) modeling.

A sample of 601 young gamers (mean age = 23.76) in Hong Kong completed the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale - Short Form and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 semi-annually at two-time points. Autoregressive and cross-lagged effects between depressive and IGD symptoms were analyzed via CLPN while controlling gamers' preferences across five game genres in R.

The comorbidity was mainly driven from depressive symptoms to IGD symptoms, with a few weaker associations from IGD to depressive symptoms. 'Anhedonia' (out-/bridge-expected influence = 2.88; 0.03) and 'Motor problems' (out-/bridge-expected influence = 1.24; 0.03) from depression were the central and bridge symptoms to trigger the development of IGD symptoms, whereas 'continue gaming despite harm' (in-expected influence = 1.29) was the most consequent symptom. 'Anhedonia' (r = 0.17) and 'suicidal risk' (r = 0.15) to 'continuation despite harm' were the strongest paths connecting depression and IGD. Gamers who preferred First-Person Shooter games and Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing games were more vulnerable to depressive and IGD symptoms.

Our findings provide empirical support for the comorbidity between IGD and depression and clarify their directional relationships at a symptom level. We identify antecedent bridge symptoms as targets for preventing escalation of co-occurring issues.