The relation between game disorder and interruption during game is mediated by game craving

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Excessive gaming, particularly Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), poses significant public health concerns.
• Understanding why individuals with IGD struggle to disengage from gaming is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Existing research often overlooks the impact of interruptions on IGD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the emotional and psychological impact of gaming interruptions on players.
• To explore the relationship between negative emotions, craving, and IGD severity.
• To examine the mediating role of craving in the context of gaming interruptions and IGD.

Main Methods:

• A controlled study involving 42 male 'League of Legends' players (aged 19-29).
• Participants experienced periodic controlled interruptions during both gaming and non-gaming tasks.
• Emotional responses (anger, anxiety) and craving were measured, alongside IGD symptom severity.

Main Results:

• Interruptions during gaming significantly increased anger and anxiety compared to control tasks.
• A positive correlation was found between IGD severity and the intensity of anger/anxiety from interruptions.
• Craving was identified as a partial mediator between anger arousal during interruptions and IGD severity.

Conclusions:

• Emotional distress from gaming interruptions contributes significantly to the cycle of Internet Gaming Disorder.
• Interventions targeting emotional regulation and coping mechanisms for interruptions may be beneficial for IGD.
• This research offers a novel perspective on the mechanisms underlying IGD, emphasizing the role of emotional responses to disruptions.