ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2023
The Associations Between Loneliness, Hopelessness, and Self-control and Internet Gaming Disorder Among University Students Who Were Men Who Have Sex With Men: Cross-sectional Mediation Study.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Effects of Open-World and Fun, Accessible Games on Perceived Loneliness and Stoicism in Adults: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.JMIR serious games · 2026Article
- Association between behavioral addiction and psychological disorders among medical students in Egypt, Sudan, and Libya: a cross-sectional study.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Reciprocal Within-Person Dynamics Between Internet Gaming Disorder Symptoms, Physical Activity, and Loneliness Among Chinese Adolescent Gamers: Three-Wave Prospective Cohort Study.JMIR serious games · 2026Article
- Social loneliness and internet gaming addiction among adolescents: the mediating roles of escape motivation and self-control.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Patterns and correlates of casual sexual behavior through the internet and inconsistent condom use among MSM college students in Zhejiang province, China: a cross-sectional study, 2022.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- When music matters: how music app use buffers the relationship between boredom proneness, loneliness and Internet Gaming Disorder.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Psycho-Emotional Factors Associated with Internet Gaming Disorder Among Japanese and Israeli University Students and Other Young Adults.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Gaming time and impulsivity as independent yet complementary predictors of gaming disorder risk.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- 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
- COVID-19-Related Social Isolation, Self-Control, and Internet Gaming Disorder Among Chinese University Students: Cross-Sectional Survey.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Article
- Patient, supporter and primary healthcare professional perspectives on health risks in over 16s with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in England: a national survey study.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Sexual stigmas among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals with problematic internet use and depression.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe minority stress model postulates that men who have sex with men (MSM) often encounter multiple stressors because of their sexual minority status, which may lead to psychological problems and maladaptive coping such as addictive behaviors (eg, internet gaming disorder [IGD]). It was hypothesized that hopelessness and loneliness would be associated with IGD via self-control among MSM.
objectiveThis study investigated the prevalence of IGD and its associations with variables related to minority stress (loneliness and hopelessness) among MSM who were university students. Mediation involving such associations via self-control was also explored.
methodsWith informed consent, 305 MSM attending universities in Sichuan, China participated in the study. The validated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) checklist was used to assess IGD. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for background factors and structural equation modeling were conducted.
resultsThe prevalence of IGD was 12.8% (n=39). Logistic regression found that IGD was positively associated with hopelessness and loneliness, and negatively associated with self-control. The structural equation modeling identified three significant paths between hopelessness/loneliness and IGD: (1) hopelessness → lower self-control → higher IGD (full mediation), (2) loneliness → lower self-control → higher IGD (partial mediation: effect size of 28%), and (3) a direct effect from loneliness to IGD.
conclusionsIGD was prevalent among young MSM and warrants interventions that may try to reduce the level of psychosocial problems such as loneliness and hopelessness and improve self-control. According to the socioecological model, the promotion of social acceptance and reduction in stigma toward MSM are important in reducing loneliness and hopefulness among MSM. Self-control links up the relationships between psychosocial problems and IGD and should be given special attention. Longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm the findings and test new mediations between loneliness/hopelessness and MSM with IGD.
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