The association between gaming disorder and impulsivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Impulsivity, the tendency to act quickly without careful consideration, is a known risk factor and correlate of substance use and addictive disorders, including International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11 gaming disorder (GD). The aim of this meta-analytic review was to critically evaluate associations between GD symptoms and trait impulsivity and its subtypes.

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 33 studies (N = 24,818) met inclusion criteria, including being published between 2019 and 2024 (i.e. to focus on studies in ICD-11 era) and reporting data on problem gaming and trait impulsivity using psychometrically validated tools. Pooled effect sizes were calculated using reported correlations or means and standard deviations. Sources of heterogeneity, such as sample type, age, gender, region, assessment tool and impulsivity subtype, were examined using subgroup and moderator analyses.

The pooled association between GD and impulsivity was r = 0.29 (95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.24, 0.34]). Significant between-study heterogeneity was detected based on study region, with larger correlations in Asian studies compared to European and Western studies. Larger correlations were reported in studies employing the YIAT and IGDS9-SF and in studies employing the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS)-11 compared to other impulsivity tools.

This meta-analytic review identified a consistent moderate association between trait impulsivity and GD. The result suggests that clinical evaluation and monitoring of GD should consider the influence of impulsivity on risk and recovery. Moreover, assessing specific subtype patterns of impulsivity may inform the implementation of tailored treatment. Future research should examine the relative influence of impulsivity subtypes in the initiation, maintenance and relapse of problematic gaming behaviour.