Early Maladaptive Schemas and Gaming and Alcohol Use Disorder Symptoms

The study investigated the relationship between early maladaptive schemas (EMS), gaming disorder (GD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms. Previous studies did not address the possible relationship between AUD and GD symptoms, which could lead to an incomplete understanding of the relationship between EMS and these disordered behaviours. The current study addressed this research gap by testing the relationship between AUD, GD symptoms and EMS.

The study included 1054 participants (565 females, M = 22.96 years, SD = 2.52) who reported playing video games and consuming alcohol within the past 12 months. Participants completed the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3), Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Problem Drinking Scale (PDS). Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) analysis was used to model the relationships between EMS, GD and AUD symptoms while controlling for gender, age, gaming hours and alcohol consumption frequency.

AUD symptoms were positively associated with dependence/incompetence, vulnerability to harm or illness, self-punitiveness and entitlement/grandiosity schemas and negatively related to social isolation/alienation and insufficient self-control/self-discipline schemas. GD symptoms were positively related to enmeshment and subjugation schemas and negatively associated with unrelenting standards and pessimism/negativism schemas. Significant differences were found between GD and AUD symptoms in their associations with specific EMS, suggesting distinct psychological pathways.

The findings highlighted the differential roles of EMS in AUD and GD symptoms. The results suggest that EMS contribute uniquely to addictive behaviours and underscore the importance of considering schema-based interventions. Future research should further explore the mediating role of parenting styles in the development of AUD and GD symptoms.