Epidemiology and healthApr 10, 2020

How playing different types of online games relates to high risk of gaming addiction in Korean teenagers

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 5, 2026

Abstract

Adolescents who engage with role playing games (RPGs), simulation games, and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games have a significantly higher risk of Internet gaming disorder (IGD).

High risk of IGD is associated with RPGs, simulation games, and MOBA games, with odds ratios of 1.52, 1.59, and 1.51, respectively.
Longer gaming time is reported among students who play RPGs, shooting games, MOBA games, simulation games, and action games.
The study analyzed data from 1,532 middle school students who reported their online gaming experiences.
The findings suggest a direct relationship between specific game genres and the likelihood of developing IGD.
Further research is needed to establish a causal link between game genres and IGD risk.

Simplified

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between high risk of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and online game genres used by adolescents.

METHODS: The data derived from the baseline data of the Internet user Cohort for Unbiased Recognition of gaming disorder in Early Adolescence. A total 1,532 middle school students who use online games included. The participants reported the names of the online games they used during the past year. Game genres were categorized into role playing games (RPGs), shooting, multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), simulation, arcade, sports and action games. The risk of IGD was measured using the Internet Gaming Use-Elicited symptom Screen. The relationship between the experience of online game genre and high risk of IGD was analyzed using multiple logistic regression model.

RESULTS: The game time of a student was longer if he or she had an experience of RPGs, shooting games, MOBA games, simulation games, and action games. The direct and independent association between high risk of IGD in adolescents and the genres of RPGs, simulation games and MOBA were found to be odds ratios 1.52 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 2.26); 1.59 (95% CI, 1.03 to 2.45); and 1.51 (95% CI, 1.03 to 2.21), respectively after adjusted the potential confounding variables and the use of other online game genres.

CONCLUSIONS: The present cross-sectional study has found an association between online game genres and the risk of IGD in adolescents attending a school. A cohort study should verify the causal association in future.

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How playing different types of online games relates to high risk of gaming addiction in Korean teenagers

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