Unequal roles of symptoms in Internet gaming disorder: A network analysis in early adolescence and emerging adulthood

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), recognized as a psychiatric condition especially prevalent among young people, still requires further clarification regarding the age-related differences. The current study employed graphical Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (gLASSO) network to assess the central symptoms of IGD in adolescents. Additionally, directed acyclic graphs (DAG) were used to explore the directed dependence among these symptoms. A total of 953 early adolescents (Mage = 11.66, SD = 1.06) and 968 emerging adults (Mage = 19.21, SD = 1.00), all of whom reported at least one symptom on the Nine-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), participated in this study. The results uncovered distinct age-based differences in the symptom structures of IGD. The gLASSO network analysis showed that Spend Time Thinking About Gaming was more central in early adolescence, while Increased Gaming Urges and Unsuccessful Attempts To Reduce were more important components in emerging adulthood. The networks' stability was estimated to be robust. The DAG analysis indicated that Spend Time Thinking About Gaming was the most influential symptom in early adolescents, triggering a cascade of downstream symptoms. In emerging adulthood, Increased Gaming Urges, Unsuccessful Attempts to Reduce, and Irritated When Trying to Reduce were mutually reinforcing, sustaining the symptomatic network. This empirical evidence enhances our understanding of the symptomatic structure of IGD among different age groups, providing a foundation for tailored interventions.