title: The (co-)occurrence of problematic video gaming, substance use, and psychosocial problems in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study explored the nature of problematic (addictive) video gaming (PVG) and the association with game type, psychosocial health, and substance use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected using a paper and pencil survey in the classroom setting. Three samples were aggregated to achieve a total sample of 8478 unique adolescents. Scales included measures of game use, game type, the Video game Addiction Test (VAT), depressive mood, negative self-esteem, loneliness, social anxiety, education performance, and use of cannabis, alcohol and nicotine (smoking).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings confirmed problematic gaming is most common amongst adolescent gamers who play multiplayer online games. Boys (60%) were more likely to play online games than girls (14%) and problematic gamers were more likely to be boys (5%) than girls (1%). High problematic gamers showed higher scores on depressive mood, loneliness, social anxiety, negative self-esteem, and self-reported lower school performance. Nicotine, alcohol, and cannabis using boys were almost twice more likely to report high PVG than non-users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that online gaming in general is not necessarily associated with problems. However, problematic gamers do seem to play online games more often, and a small subgroup of gamers - specifically boys - showed lower psychosocial functioning and lower grades. Moreover, associations with alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use are found. It would appear that problematic gaming is an undesirable problem for a small subgroup of gamers. The findings encourage further exploration of the role of psychoactive substance use in problematic gaming.
authors.affiliation: IVO Addiction Research Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands ; Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Antonius J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: VAN Rooij
authors.affiliation: Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Daria J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kuss
authors.affiliation: International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Division, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.affiliation: International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Division, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK ; Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, University of Ulster, Londonderry, UK ; MRC All-Ireland Hub for Trials Methodology Research, University of Ulster, Londonderry, UK.
authors.forename: Gillian W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Shorter
authors.affiliation: IVO Addiction Research Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands ; Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M Tim
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Schoenmakers
authors.affiliation: IVO Addiction Research Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands ; Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands ; Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dike
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: VAN DE Mheen
keywords: Internet Gaming Disorder; adolescents; alcohol; cannabis; depression; loneliness; negative self-esteem; online games; problematic video gaming; smoking; social anxiety