Maria C. Haagsma

The Prevalence of Problematic Video Gamers in The Netherlands

This study surveyed Dutch adolescents and adults about their video gaming behavior to assess the prevalence of problematic gaming. A representative national panel of 902 respondents aged 14 to 81 took part in the study. The results show that gaming in general is a wide-spread and popular activity among the Dutch population. Browser games (small games played via the internet) and offline casual games (e.g., offline card games) were reported as most popular type of game. Online games (e.g., massively multiplayer online role-playing games) are played by a relatively small part of the respondents, yet considerably more time is spent on these online games than on browser games, offline casual games, and offline games (e.g., offline racing games). The prevalence of problematic gaming in the total sample is 1.3 percent. Among adolescents and young adults problematic gaming occurs in 3.3 percent of cases. Particularly male adolescents seem to be more vulnerable to developing problematic gaming habits.

A cognitive-behavioral model of problematic online gaming in adolescents aged 12-22years

The aim of this study was to apply the cognitive behavioral model of problematic Internet use to the context of online game use to obtain a better understanding of problematic use of online games and its negative consequences. In total, 597 online game playing adolescents aged 12-22years participated in this study. Results showed that the cognitive behavioral model of problematic Internet use can also be used in the context of online game use. More specifically, preference for online social interaction, mood regulation and deficient self-regulation appeared to play an important role in predicting negative outcomes from problematic online game use. Together, these cognitions and behaviors explained 79% of the variance of negative outcomes scores. These findings can be used to develop strategies that aim at reducing problematic online game behavior and its negative consequences.

Scholars’ open debate paper on the World Health Organization ICD-11 Gaming Disorder proposal

Concerns about problematic gaming behaviors deserve our full attention. However, we claim that it is far from clear that these problems can or should be attributed to a new disorder. The empirical basis for a Gaming Disorder proposal, such as in the new ICD-11, suffers from fundamental issues. Our main concerns are the low quality of the research base, the fact that the current operationalization leans too heavily on substance use and gambling criteria, and the lack of consensus on symptomatology and assessment of problematic gaming. The act of formalizing this disorder, even as a proposal, has negative medical, scientific, public-health, societal, and human rights fallout that should be considered. Of particular concern are moral panics around the harm of video gaming. They might result in premature application of diagnosis in the medical community and the treatment of abundant false-positive cases, especially for children and adolescents. Second, research will be locked into a confirmatory approach, rather than an exploration of the boundaries of normal versus pathological. Third, the healthy majority of gamers will be affected negatively. We expect that the premature inclusion of Gaming Disorder as a diagnosis in ICD-11 will cause significant stigma to the millions of children who play video games as a part of a normal, healthy life. At this point, suggesting formal diagnoses and categories is premature: the ICD-11 proposal for Gaming Disorder should be removed to avoid a waste of public health resources as well as to avoid causing harm to healthy video gamers around the world.

Computergames: vermaak met serieuze consequenties

SamenvattingVanuit het verslavingsveld komen signalen naar voren dat gameverslaving een opkomend probleem is. Vooralsnog wordt gameverslaving door de American Psychiatric Association (APA) echter niet aangemerkt als mogelijk verslavend. Dit betekent dat gameverslaving op dit moment niet ‘bestaat’ binnen de reguliere gezondheidszorg en een behandeling niet altijd wordt vergoed vanuit de zorgverzekering. In dit onderzoek is geïnventariseerd welk specifiek hulpaanbod er bestaat voor gameverslaving in de reguliere verslavingszorg. Uit de resultaten blijkt dat gameverslaving in de praktijk een bestaand gezondheidsprobleem is en dat er een toenemende vraag bestaat naar een hulpaanbod. De preventie en behandeling van gameverslaving is in Nederland nog in ontwikkeling. Er is behoefte aan zowel goed epidemiologisch onderzoek naar de problematiek als de ontwikkeling van preventie- en behandelmethoden. Een landelijke aanpak waarbij instellingen en organisaties samenwerken en kennis uitwisselen maakt de problematiek eerder inzichtelijk en versnelt de ontwikkeling van preventie- en behandelmethoden. Hierbij zal ook de overheid een rol moeten spelen, bijvoorbeeld door financiële steun te verlenen voor onderzoek en de ontwikkeling van preventie- en behandelmethoden.