Addictive behaviorsJun 20, 2024

Problematic gaming and mental health issues during adolescence: A review of research

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 30, 2026

Abstract

Analysis of 30 studies involving 3683 adolescents reveals high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities associated with problematic gaming.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is frequently observed in adolescents with problematic gaming.
There are links between problematic gaming and symptoms of inattention, anxiety, and depression.
Behavioural and emotional issues are also common among adolescents engaged in problematic gaming.
The interaction of psychiatric comorbidities with problematic gaming may predict its persistence during adolescence.
Personality traits and environmental factors, including parental education, may influence this complex relationship.

Simplified

Problematic gaming is particularly prevalent in adolescent and young adult populations. While numerous studies have investigated the psychiatric comorbidities of Internet Gaming Disorder in young adults, few have focused specifically on adolescents who might be especially at risk because developmental particularities related to this developmental period. Here, we conducted a review of the literature, in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, in order to highlight the types of psychiatric comorbidities found in adolescents with problematic gaming.. We selected and analyzed 30 cross-sectional and longitudinal studies which correspond to 3683 adolescents (63,27% of boys) worldwide with problematic gaming. Our results highlight the high prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adolescents with problematic gaming and the links between this addiction and inattention, anxiety, depression, behavioural and emotional problems. These psychiatric comorbidities interact with problematic gaming and predict it throughout the adolescent's development. Moreover, this interaction involves personality profile and environment, including parental education. The complexity of this interaction argues in favor of the multi-level assessment that we are promoting.

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Problematic gaming and mental health issues during adolescence: A review of research

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