Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40355837›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2025

The association between a stress-is-enhancing mindset and internet gaming disorder was mediated by behavioral disengagement among medical undergraduate students: a multi-center survey in China.

Haiyan Xiang, Lijing Liu, Xin Su, Ying Yang, Haifeng Xue, Bo Liu, Yanling Tu, Ruxin Wang, Xinxin Mo, Hongye Luo and 9 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Haiyan Xiang *School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Lijing Liu *School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Xin SuSchool of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science & Technology, Baotou, China.
Ying YangDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science & Technology, Baotou, China.
Haifeng XueSchool of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China.
Bo LiuThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China.
Yanling TuSchool of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Ruxin WangSchool of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Xinxin MoResearch Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
Hongye LuoInformation and Management School, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
Lijuan LiSchool of Public Health, Dali University, Dali, China.
Xianzhang TianDaily University Health Science Center, Dali, China.
Yanjie YangPsychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Zhengxue QiaoPsychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Liping LiShantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
Tong XieShantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
Siman LiSchool of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Joseph T F LauSchool of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China. jlau@cuhk.edu.hk.
Yanqiu YuSchool of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. yuyanqiu@fudan.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82304258
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe stress-is-enhancing mindset has beneficial effects on physical, psychological, and emotional well-being. However, its association with internet gaming disorder (IGD) had not been investigated. By integrating stress mindset into the cognitive evaluation process of commonly used stress coping theories, this study examined the association between stress mindset and IGD and explored relevant mediation mechanisms via behavioral disengagement. The gender differences in the above associations and mediations were also explored.

methodsAn online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey was conducted among medical undergraduate students from seven cities (Baotou, Qiqihar, Harbin, Wenzhou, Guangxi, Dali, and Shantou) in China from December 2023 to February 2024. The final sample size was 8,552 (a mean response rate of 71.0%). The DSM-5 IGD Checklist, the Stress Mindset Measure-General, and the behavioral disengagement subscale of Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory were used to assess IGD, stress mindset, behavioral disengagement, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the significance and direction of the determinants of IGD. Path analysis was performed to examine the mediation mechanisms and the moderation effect of gender. All these analyses were adjusted for background factors.

resultsOf all participants, the prevalence of IGD was 7.5%, and males had significantly higher prevalence than females (14.7% versus 7.4%, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses found that the stress-is-enhancing mindset was negatively associated with IGD (ORa = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.92 ~ 0.97) while behavioral disengagement was positively associated with IGD (ORa = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.57 ~ 1.76). Path analysis found that behavioral disengagement fully mediated the association between stress mindset and IGD, i.e., the stress-is-enhancing mindset was negatively associated with behavioral disengagement, which in turn was positively associated with IGD. However, gender did not significantly moderate the associations between stress mindset and behavioral disengagement, between behavioral disengagement and IGD, and between stress mindset and IGD.

conclusionsThis study observed the relatively high prevalence of IGD among Chinese medical undergraduate students. It also revealed that the stress-is-enhancing mindset was potentially protective against IGD, and behavioral disengagement might fully explain such a beneficial effect. Future longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to verify and extend these findings.

Indexed as

Adaptation, PsychologicalInternet Addiction DisorderStress, PsychologicalStudents, MedicalVideo GamesAdultChinaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleSex FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAvoidant copingChinaInternet gaming disorderMedical studentsStress mindset

Identifiers

PMID40355837
PMCPMC12070511

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.