Asia-Pacific journal of public healthMar 14, 2022

Online Game Use and Risk of Internet Gaming Disorder Over 12 Months in Korea

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 5, 2026

Abstract

The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) risk was 2.54 for adolescents who increased their gaming time.

Increased daily gaming time is associated with a higher risk of IGD.
A consistent higher gaming time also correlates with an elevated IGD risk, with an IRR of 2.38 compared to lower gaming time.
Increased frequency of gaming days per week is linked to an even greater IGD risk, with an IRR of 3.76.
Maintaining gaming time to no more than 1.5 hours per day and gaming frequency to 4 days per week may help reduce IGD risk.
The study evaluated 1318 adolescent online game users over a 12-month period.

Simplified

Children and adolescents' Internet game use has both functional and dysfunctional aspects. This study aimed to examine how changes in online gaming behaviors impact the risk of Internet gaming disorder (IGD). We observed 1318 adolescent online game users. Baseline and 12-month follow-up evaluations were performed, and it was defined whether the average online gaming time per day exceeded 1.5 hours and whether the number of gaming days per week exceeded 4 days. Gaming disorder was defined using the Internet Game Use-Elicited Symptom Screen. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the difference in the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of IGD risk according to changes in gaming time or frequency. Results indicated the IRR of IGD risk was 2.54 for the increased time spent group and 2.38 for the consistent higher time spent group against the consistent lower time spent group. The IRR was 3.76 for the increased frequency group and 2.92 for the consistent higher frequency group against the consistent lower frequency group. Therefore, managing Internet game use not to exceed 1.5 hours per day on average and 4 days per week would help prevent elevation of IGD risk.

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Online Game Use and Risk of Internet Gaming Disorder Over 12 Months in Korea

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