Internet Gaming Disorder in Youth (1 CE)

Number of Credits: 1

This course is for: Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, and Marriage & Family Therapists

Course By: Ken Springer, PhD

Content By: Wichstrøm, L., Stenseng, F., Belsky, J., von Soest, T., & Hygen, B . W. (2019). Symptoms of internet gaming disorder in youth: Predictors and comorbidity. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 47, 71-83.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-018-0422-x

Course Description: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is cited in the DSM-5 as a condition for further study, but research on predictors, symptoms, and comorbidities of IGD is still limited. In the present study, the researchers designed an Internet Gaming Disorder Interview and administered this interview to a community sample of 10 year olds. The researchers also obtained information about predictors and comobordities of IGD from the children themselves, as well as from parents and teachers, when the children were 8 and 10 years of age. The researchers identified 1.7% of their sample as having IGD, including six times as many boys as girls. Predictors of IGD included low social competence and poor emotion regulation. Symptoms of IGD mainly reflected two factors: heavy involvement in gaming and negative consequences. Analyses of potential comborbidities revealed only weak associations between IGD and other disorders. These and other findings have implications for the etiology, diagnosis, and prevention of IGD in children. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the need for the study and the methods by which data were collected from children, parents, and teachers
2. Describe the main findings of the study concerning predictors, symptoms, and comorbodities of IGD
3. Integrate the strengths and limitations of the study, and summarize the practical implications for understanding and preventing IGD

Course Outline:

• Read and understand Symptoms of internet gaming disorder in youth: Predictors and comorbidity
• Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives
• Understand the need for research on predictors, symptoms, and comorbidities of IGD
• Understand the methods by which IGD as well as its predictors and potential comorbidities were measured at ages 8 and 10
• Distinguish among the predictors and symptoms of IGD identified by the researchers
• Integrate the study's key findings, strengths, limitations, and practical implications
• Work through the post-test questions, using the article as the sole basis for your answers
• Revisit the article for any missed questions and/or to better understand the predictors and symptoms of IGD

Approvals: