Playing-like gaming, offline leisure, and help-seeking in problematic gaming amongst Flemish adolescents: a three-wave longitudinal examine

Abstract

Introduction: Problematic gaming amongst adolescents has acquired rising consideration, but longitudinal proof that may inform harm-reduction responses stays restricted, notably relating to gambling-like gaming options, offline leisure, and help-seeking. Methods: This examine examined the prevalence, course, and potential correlates of problematic gaming in a three-wave annual cohort of Flemish adolescent avid gamers. Secondary college college students who reported gaming not less than sometimes accomplished surveys at baseline (T1: N = 1,863), one-year follow-up (T2: N = 1,807), and two-year follow-up (T3: N = 1,748). Problematic gaming was assessed with the Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents. Baseline predictors included engagement with gambling-like gaming options, microtransactions, extracurricular passion participation, and perceived competence in extracurricular domains; help-seeking information and conduct had been assessed at T3. Results: Problematic gaming was unusual throughout waves (1.5%–1.9%) and amongst adolescents who participated in any respect three waves, none met the cut-off at each evaluation. After adjustment for baseline signs and sociodemographic covariates, larger engagement with gambling-like gaming options predicted greater problematic gaming signs over one yr, however not over two years. Microtransaction engagement was positively correlated with problematic gaming however didn’t independently predict later symptom change. Neither extracurricular passion participation nor perceived competence in extracurricular domains had been related to subsequent modifications in problematic gaming signs. At T3, 53.4% of adolescents reported figuring out the place they may search assist for gaming-related issues, whereas solely 3.5% reported having sought assist, and baseline problematic gaming didn’t prospectively predict later help-seeking. Discussion: Overall, problematic gaming on this neighborhood pattern was comparatively unusual and confirmed restricted categorical stability over time. The findings determine gambling-like gaming options as a related potential goal for harm-reduction-oriented prevention, whereas the baseline offline leisure indicators didn’t prospectively predict symptom change. They additionally level to a spot between perceived entry to assist and precise help-seeking.