Open Access

ARTICLE

Internet Gaming Disorder and Mental Health of Children in China: A Latent Profile Analysis

Md Zahir Ahmed^1,*, Oli Ahmed², Lingfeng Gao¹, Mary C. Jobe³, Weijian Li¹
1 School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
2 Department of Psychology, University of Chittagong, Chattogram, 4331, Bangladesh
3 Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington DC, 20052, USA
* Corresponding Author: Md Zahir Ahmed. Email:

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2024.051055

Received 26 February 2024; Accepted 14 May 2024; Published online 28 June 2024

Abstract

In recent years, speculation of an increase in Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has surfaced with the growing popularity of internet gaming among Chinese children and adolescents. The detrimental impact of IGD on mental health cannot be denied, even though only a small portion of the screen-dependent population exhibits psychopathological and behavioral symptoms. The present study aimed to explore a latent profile analysis (LPA) of Internet Gaming Disorder on the mental health of Chinese school students. The data were collected from a sample of 1005 Chinese school students (49.8% male; age M = 13.32, SD = 1.34 years) using a paper-pencil survey through convenience sampling. LPA explored three latent profiles of internet gamers: regular gamers (62.4%), moderate gamers (28.1%), and probable disordered gamers (9.4%). Results showed that the probable disordered gamers had significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, emotional and conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problem symptoms as well as lower life satisfaction, and pro-social symptoms compared to regular and moderate gamers (p < 0.05). This study would be helpful to mental health professionals in designing interventions for gamers who present IGD symptoms. Future longitudinal studies should also be undertaken to assess whether mental health worsens for probable disordered gamers.

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Keywords

Internet gaming disorder; latent profile analysis; mental health; children and adolescents; China

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