Prevalence of gaming disorder and its association with depression and anxiety among undergraduate students at Thammasat university
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Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of gaming disorder and investigate its association with depression and anxiety among undergraduate students.
Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted on undergraduate students. Online questionnaires consisted of demographic data, Game Addiction Screening Test (GAST), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were distributed through students’ social network platforms. The cut-off scores of GAST for indicating problematic gaming behavior or gaming disorder was ≥ 24 in males and ≥ 16 in females. The cut-off scores of PHQ-9 for indicating depression was ≥ 9 and the cut-off scores of GAD-7 for indicating anxiety was ≥ 10.
Results: 252 undergraduate students from Thammasat University participated in the online survey. 146 (57.9%) participants were female. The average age was 20.71 ± 1.46 years. 36 (14.3%) participants had problematic gaming behavior or gaming disorder. 112 (44.4%) and 36 (14.3%) participants had depression and anxiety, respectively. Game addiction score showed a statistically significant positive correlation with depression (p<0.001) and anxiety (p=0.019). A multivariable analysis found that being female was significantly associated with gaming disorder (OR 2.8, p=0.014).
Conclusion: The prevalence of gaming disorder among undergraduate students at Thammasat university is higher than in previous non-Thai studies and such a condition is associated with depression and anxiety. Therefore, gaming-related problems should be aware and screened in university students.
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