Increased Risk of Internalizing Disorders Among Gamers: A Study of Norwegian University Students Using The Self-Report Version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Pathological gaming has been linked to poor mental health, but few studies differentiate between gaming categories. This study examined associations between gaming behavior and internalizing disorders among Norwegian university students ( N = 5578). Participants completed the Gaming Addiction Scale for Adolescents (GASA) and a self-report version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Gaming was categorized as non-gaming, recreational, engaged, problematic, and pathological. Internalizing disorders (past 30 days) were assessed using the CIDI. Poisson regression models with a log-link and robust standard errors were used to compute pairwise risk ratios between gaming categories and any internalizing disorder. Regression analyses showed that compared to non-gamers, all other categories—including recreational gamers—showed increased risk of internalizing disorders. Notably, our results indicated that engaged gamers and problematic/pathological gamers did not differ significantly in their risk for internalizing disorders. The findings suggest that even non-problematic gaming may be linked to internalizing symptoms. Future research should explore whether pre-existing vulnerabilities contribute to both increased gaming and mental health challenges.
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,090
OpenAlex ID: W4415909997