The role of different game-genres in predicting internet gaming disorder (IGD)

Abstract

Introduction: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a new diagnosis in DSM 5 worth of research. New potentially addictive features are emerging in pay- and free-to-play videogames, involving different at-risk populations of gamers. However, few studies have examined whether and how different game-genres can contribute to the risk of IGD. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate how game-genres can predict IGD, accounting for alexithymia scores, time-related play- ing habits, and other predictors. Methods: Participants were gamers joining online communities, surveyed about which games they played more than 20 hours in their lifetime, time-variables, other stressors and alexithymia scores. A six-steps linear regression with IGD scores and a post hoc logistic regression (outcome: IGD>=21) were performed. Results: 5,979 subjects (88.7% males, 14-18 years), playing at different games (Figure-1). The game-genre explained the 1% of variation only. WoW and similar MMORPGs confirmed their potentiality in promoting IGD, regardless of alexithymia features (B=0.50, p=0.005). However, time-variables completely absorbed the WoW effect (B=0.01, p=0.951). LoL resulted addictive, even if considering time-variables and alexithymia (B=0.88, p<0.001). Minecraft emerged when time-variables were inserted (B=0.359, p=0.041) and stayed significant if removing alexithymia scores (B=0.48, p=0.010). Playing at Diablo3 and similar RPG did not increase IGD (B=-0.99, p>0.001). None of the different game- genres was able to push the subject over the threshold of IGD, because other characteristics interacted as additive risk-factors. Conclusions: Alexithymia traits and time-related playing habits mostly moderated the effect of different games in increasing IGD risk. A videogame could engage people with specific characteristics that may, in turn, differentially predispose to IGD.