A total of 1527 college students were examined to assess the relationship between daily video game exposure and (IGD).
Daily video game exposure, gender, and severity of depression are independent factors influencing IGD.
Depression may mediate the relationship between daily video game play and the risk of developing IGD.
Gender may moderate the effect of depression on IGD, with male students at higher risk when exhibiting prolonged gaming behavior and depressive symptoms.
Targeted strategies to improve emotional regulation skills could be a key preventive measure against IGD, especially for male students.
Simplified
To investigate the relationship between daily Video Games exposure and (IGD) with reference to college students, analyse the mediating role of Depression and gender, and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of IGD in college students. Using cluster random sampling, 1527 college students were selected to join the study. A Demographic questionnaire, Internet Gaming Disorder Test-20 (IGD-20), and (PHQ-9) were adopted to investigate Video Games and Depression among college students. Using the mediating effect analysis method, this study explores the mediating role of Depression in the relationship between daily play time and IGD, as well as the moderating role of gender. College students' daily Video Games exposure, gender and severity of Depression were independent factors influencing IGD. Mediation analysis revealed that Depression played a mediating role between daily Video Games exposure and IGD. In the mediating model, gender moderates the line from Depression to IGD. Male university students exhibiting prolonged gaming behavior coupled with depressive mood are at elevated risk for developing IGD and require prioritized intervention. Implementing targeted strategies to enhance emotional regulation skills - particularly for male students - may serve as one of pivotal preventive measure against IGD within collegiate populations.
Key numbers
0.5%
Daily Video Games Exposure Association
Percentage of students meeting criteria based on -20 scores.
10.93%
Moderate Depression Prevalence
Percentage of students scoring at moderate depression levels or above on the PHQ-9.
18.61±1.01
Mean Age of Participants
Mean age of the 1,527 participants in the survey.
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Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Biomedical Ethics Committee of Bengbu medical University (Ethical number:2023-347) and the procedures were carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants were informed about the study and gave their informed consent. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
