title: Role-Playing and Real-Time Strategy Games Associated with Greater Probability of Internet Gaming Disorder.
abstract: Research indicates that a small subset of those who routinely play video games show signs of pathological habits, with side effects ranging from mild (e.g., being late) to quite severe (e.g., losing a job). However, it is still not clear whether individual types, or genres, of games are most strongly associated with Internet gaming disorder (IGD). A sample of 4,744 University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduates (Mage=18.9 years; SD=1.9 years; 60.5% female) completed questionnaires on general video game playing habits and on symptoms of IGD. Consistent with previous reports: 5.9-10.8% (depending on classification criteria) of individuals who played video games show signs of pathological play. Furthermore, real-time strategy and role-playing video games were more strongly associated with pathological play, compared with action and other games (e.g., phone games). The current investigation adds support to the idea that not all video games are equal. Instead, certain genres of video games, specifically real-time strategy and role-playing/fantasy games, are disproportionately associated with IGD symptoms.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eichenbaum
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kattner
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bradford
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Psychology, Iowa State University , Ames, Iowa.
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: C Shawn
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011336:Probability; D011998:Recreation; D012381:Role Playing; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D018910:Video Games / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult