ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2021
Awareness and Potential Impacts of the Medicalization of Internet Gaming Disorder: Cross-sectional Survey Among Adolescents in China.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evolving diagnosis and comorbidities of gaming disorder: Insights from psychiatry departments in five Chinese hospitals from 2018 to 2023.Journal of behavioral addictions · 2025Observational
- Relationship between adolescent gaming addiction and myopia, ocular surface condition, and health status: a questionnaire based cohort study.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Cognitive Mechanisms Between Psychosocial Resources and the Behavioral Intention of Professional Help-Seeking for Internet Gaming Disorder Among Chinese Adolescent Gamers: Cross-Sectional Mediation Study.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2024Article
- Interaction Effects Between Low Self-Control and Meaning in Life on Internet Gaming Disorder Symptoms and Functioning in Chinese Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Latent Moderated Structural Equation Modeling Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Article
- Association Between Internet Gaming Disorder and Suicidal Ideation Mediated by Psychosocial Resources and Psychosocial Problems Among Adolescent Internet Gamers in China: Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR serious games · 2024Article
- Towards a Comprehensive Classificatory System for Problematic Internet Use: A Path Forward.Indian journal of psychological medicine · 2024Article
- It's not just about how long you play. Indirect gaming involvement and genre preferences in predicting gaming disorder risk: evidence from preregistered studies.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Article
- Problematic use of the Internet in low- and middle-income countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review.Current opinion in behavioral sciences · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe Eleventh Revision of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) newly listed gaming disorder, including internet gaming disorder (IGD), as a disease. The level of awareness and potential positive and negative impacts of this medicalization among adolescents were unknown.
objectiveThis study investigated the levels, associated factors, and potential positive and negative impacts of awareness of the medicalization of IGD among adolescents in China.
methodsIn a cross-sectional survey, 1343 middle school students in Guangzhou, China, self-administered an anonymous questionnaire in classrooms (October to December 2019). Three risk subgroups were identified: those who scored ≥5 items in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition checklist (IGD-S), those who self-perceived having IGD currently (IGD-PC), and those who self-perceived having IGD within 12 months (IGD-P12M).
resultsOf the internet gamers, 48.3% (460/952) were aware of the medicalization of IGD; they were more likely to belong to the IGD-P12M/IGD-S risk subgroups. Within the IGD-PC/IGD-P12M (but not IGD-S) risk subgroups, IGD medicalization awareness was positively associated with favorable outcomes (reduced internet gaming time in the past 12 months, seeking help from professionals if having IGD, and fewer maladaptive cognitions). After being briefed about the ICD-11 inclusion of IGD, 54.2% (516/952) and 32.8% (312/952) expressed that it would lead to the reduction of gaming time and help-seeking behaviors, respectively; however, 17.9% (170/952), 21.5% (205/952), 15.9% (151/952), and 14.5% (138/952) perceived self-doubt for being diseased, stronger pressure from family members, negative emotional responses, and labeling effect, respectively. With a few exceptions, such perceived positive or negative impacts were stronger among the IGD-S, IGD-PC, and IGD-P12M risk subgroups.
conclusionsThe exploratory study shows that the medicalization of IGD may have benefits that need maximization and potentially harmful effects that need minimization. Future studies should test the efficacies of health promotion that increases IGD medicalization awareness.
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