Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42179981›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in psychiatry2026

A two-decade bibliometric analysis (2004-2024) of parental factors in the context of internet gaming disorder research.

Valentina Novak, Zoran Zoričić, Vladimir Ruf, Sanja Brkić, Marijana Neuberg, Tomislav Meštrović, Krunoslav Capak, Josip Šimić

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

8 authors.

Valentina NovakDepartment of Nursing, University centre Varaždin, University North, Varaždin, Croatia.
Zoran ZoričićFaculty of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Vladimir RufFaculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sanja BrkićFaculty of Health Studies, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Marijana NeubergDepartment of Nursing, University centre Varaždin, University North, Varaždin, Croatia.
Tomislav MeštrovićDepartment of Nursing, University centre Varaždin, University North, Varaždin, Croatia.
Krunoslav CapakDepartment of Nursing, University centre Varaždin, University North, Varaždin, Croatia.
Josip ŠimićFaculty of Health Studies, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This is the first targeted bibliometric analysis which explores the development of scientific production on the relationship between parenting and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) over twenty years, emphasizing the central role of the family context in the etiology and maintenance of IGD. Methods: Papers indexed in Scopus and Web of Science databases from 2004 to December 31, 2024, were analyzed using the PRISMA guidelines, the R package Bibliometrix, and VOSviewer. A comprehensive search strategy was developed using Boolean operators to capture variations of parental and gaming-related terminology. Records were exported in BibTeX format and were merged and cleaned to remove duplicates before the analysis. A descriptive bibliometric analysis, bibliometric mapping, and content analysis were conducted to identify trends and thematic clusters. The analysis included 389 publications. Results: The most cited papers confirm the association of low parental warmth, family dysfunction, and comorbid psychiatric symptoms with a higher risk of IGD. Thematic mapping reveals six dominant clusters covering the conceptualization and diagnosis of IGD, parental mediation and virtual environment, psychological vulnerability and mental health, parenting and attachment, parenting styles and self-control, and problematic screen-related behaviors, and a strong concentration of publications in China, Germany, and the USA. The analysis also revealed an increase in publication output after 2013, with a notable acceleration following the inclusion of gaming disorder in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11). Conclusion: The bibliometric analysis reveals the rapid growth of research on parenting and IGD, highlighting the multifactorial nature of the disorder where dysfunctional family relationships increase risk, while supportive ones reduce it. Despite progress, longitudinal studies are needed for better understanding of causality and interventions.

Indexed as

autismbibliometric analysisbibliometric mappingfamily contextinternet gaming disorderparenting

Identifiers

PMID42179981
PMCPMC13190524

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.