Correlates of internet gaming among violent and nonviolent gamers and comparison of their psychological well-being with nongamers in a university student population

Maliha Ansari; Nisheet M Patel; Ankur N Mahida; Ajay G Phatak; Anusha Prabhakaran; Jagdish R Varma

doi:10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_1208_20

Correlates of internet gaming among violent and nonviolent gamers and comparison of their psychological well-being with nongamers in a university student population

Indian J Psychiatry. 2022 Jan-Feb;64(1):98-101. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_1208_20. Epub 2022 Jan 21.

Authors

Maliha Ansari¹, Nisheet M Patel², Ankur N Mahida¹, Ajay G Phatak³, Anusha Prabhakaran¹, Jagdish R Varma¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India.
² Department of Psychiatry, Smt. B K Shah Medical Institute and Research Center, Sumandeep Vidhyapeeth Piparia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
³ Department of Central Research Services, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India.

PMID: 35400738
PMCID: PMC8992759
DOI: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_1208_20

Abstract

Background: India's population has seen increasing access to the Internet and gaming mainly in adolescents and young adults.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of Internet gaming and its effects on the psychological well-being of gamers versus nongamers.

Materials and methods: Cross-sectional survey was done to enroll a convenient sample of nongamers, violent gamers, and nonviolent gamers. Measures included Psychological general well-being scale-short (PGWB-S), Internet Gaming Disorder-Short Form-9 (IGDS9-SF), name, frequency, and duration of game use.

Results: The study enrolled 119 nongamers, 62 violent gamers, and 58 non-violent gamers. The prevalence of IGD was 0.8%. PGWB-S scores of gamers were comparable to nongamers. On multiple linear regression, lower PGWB-S score and higher frequency of use were found significantly associated with higher IGDSF-S9 scores. Violent gaming was found significantly associated with male gender (P ≤ 0.001), frequency (P = 0.012), and duration of game use (P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions: The study provides empirical evidence for the "gaming as a consequence of self-medication" hypothesis.

Keywords: IGDS9-SF; Internet gaming disorder; PGWB-S; prevalence; university students.