Binge gaming: a notable gaming pattern beyond total gaming time
Manyun Li1, Pu Peng2, Yanan Zhou3
1Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China.
Psychiatry Research
|March 31, 2026
Summary
Binge gaming (BG), playing over 5 hours straight, is a stronger indicator of internet gaming disorder (IGD) than total gaming time in high school students. BG frequency better predicts IGD severity, independent of overall gaming duration.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Previous research links total gaming time to internet gaming disorder (IGD).
- Qualitative gaming patterns, like binge gaming (BG), are underexplored as IGD indicators.
- BG involves playing for more than 5 hours consecutively, potentially reflecting addictive processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if binge gaming (BG) frequency is a more distinct and clinically relevant indicator of internet gaming disorder (IGD) among Chinese senior high school students.
- To compare the predictive power of BG frequency against weekly gaming time (WGT) for IGD.
- To determine if BG frequency predicts IGD independently of total gaming duration.
Main Methods:
- A web-based survey was administered to 2,689 senior high school students (mean age 16.10).
- Data analysis included partial correlation, hierarchical regression, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).
- The nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF) was used to assess IGD symptoms.
Main Results:
- Over half of participants (58.83%) reported BG, with 17.77% engaging in it weekly.
- BG frequency showed a significant positive association with IGDS9-SF scores (partial r = 0.306, p < .001), even after controlling for WGT.
- Hierarchical regression indicated BG (β = 0.33) was a stronger predictor of IGD than WGT (β = 0.20).
- ANCOVA revealed a dose-response relationship: higher BG frequency correlated with increased IGD severity, explaining 10.1% of variance after adjusting for WGT (p < .001).
Conclusions:
- Binge gaming (BG) frequency is a robust and stronger indicator of internet gaming disorder (IGD) than total gaming duration.
- BG episodes play a significant role in IGD development and severity.
- Findings suggest BG frequency can refine strategies for reducing IGD in adolescents.
