Internet Gaming Disorder Behaviors in Emergent Adulthood: a Pilot Study Examining the Interplay Between Anxiety and Family Cohesion

Understanding risk and protective factors associated with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been highlighted as a research priority by the American Psychiatric Association, ( 2013 ). The present study focused on the potential IGD risk effect of anxiety and the buffering role of family cohesion on this association. A sample of emerging adults all of whom were massively multiplayer online (MMO) gamers (18–29 years) residing in Australia were assessed longitudinally (face-to-face: N = 61, M age = 23.02 years, SD = 3.43) and cross-sectionally (online: N = 64, M age = 23.34 years, SD = 3.39). IGD symptoms were assessed using the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS-SF9; Pontes & Griffiths Computers in Human Behavior, 45 , 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.12.006 , 2015 ). The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Beck and Steer, 1990 ) and the balanced family cohesion scale (BFC; Olson Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 3 (1) 64–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2009.00175.x , 2011 ) were applied to assess anxiety and BFC levels, respectively. Linear regressions and moderation analyses confirmed that anxiety increased IGD risk and that BFC weakened the anxiety-related IGD risk.