Browsing by Subject "internetpelihäiriö"

ABSTRACT: Background factors of problematic internet gaming UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI Faculty of medicine Allan Hasanen The goal of this bachelor’s thesis is to examine the current empirical studies on the background factors of problematic internet gaming in the form of a literature overview. The focus of this examination is on the family, social, cognitive and comorbid factors behind problematic internet gaming and to examine the gaming habits of problematic gamers. Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a condition which American Psychiatric Association requested for further study in DSM-5. Current evidence suggests that problematic internet gaming is most prevalent in children, adolescents and young adults, especially males. There is a relationship between problematic gaming and worse family cohesion and problems in school integration. The main types of games that predict problematic gaming and the games that most problematic gamers play are MMOs (Massive Multiplayer Online), FPS (First Person Shooter) and MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games). Typical motivational factors for problematic gaming are escapism and the fulfilment of social needs. Certain maladaptive beliefs about gaming are found in problematic gamers. Internet gaming disorder shares many traits with gambling, but is its own possible entity. Internet gaming disorder is comorbid with hyperactivity, anxiety and depression. There is no consensus on the specific symptoms or the required threshold on the number of symptoms required for this condition. This causes problems on comparability of the studies on problematic gaming and internet gaming disorder. Keywords: internet gaming disorder, children’s psychiatry, videogames, problematic gaming