Psycho-Emotional Factors Associated with Internet Gaming Disorder Among Japanese and Israeli University Students and Other Young Adults
Gaming is a popular leisure activity with an increasing number of participants worldwide. It has positive aspects as well as a problematic side—Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). This behavior attracts concern among mental health and education professionals because of possible negative psycho-emotional...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/841 |
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| author | Shai-li Romem Porat Alexander Reznik Akihiro Masuyama Daichi Sugawara Gal Galya Sternberg Takahiro Kubo Richard Isralowitz |
| author_facet | Shai-li Romem Porat Alexander Reznik Akihiro Masuyama Daichi Sugawara Gal Galya Sternberg Takahiro Kubo Richard Isralowitz |
| author_sort | Shai-li Romem Porat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gaming is a popular leisure activity with an increasing number of participants worldwide. It has positive aspects as well as a problematic side—Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). This behavior attracts concern among mental health and education professionals because of possible negative psycho-emotional factors. This study aimed to assess IGD among Japanese and Israeli university students and other young adults. We explored the association of culture and IGD based on gender, burnout, and loneliness. It was hypothesized that IGD would differentiate based on the respondent country (i.e., Japan or Israel) and gender, with males reporting higher levels. Furthermore, IGD would be associated with higher levels of loneliness and burnout, regardless of country. Qualtrics and Excel platforms were used to collect responses to the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short Form, De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and Short Burnout Measure (SBM). Data was gathered from a cross-cultural sample of 1318 male and female university students and other young adults in Japan and Israel, between 2022 and 2023. Japanese gamers showed less IGD (<i>p</i> < 0.05); and males evidenced higher levels regardless of their country (<i>p</i> < 0.001). IGD was significantly associated with loneliness (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and burnout (<i>p</i> < 0.001). However, multiple regression analysis showed that IGD is predicted only by burnout and gender (<i>p</i> < 0.001), Adjusted R<sup>2</sup> = 0.234. This study provides information for policy, prevention, and intervention purposes targeting burnout particularly among males who are a high-risk group. Additionally, this study contributes to possible joint online program development to reduce IGD among Japanese and Israeli gamers. Further research should examine the association between IGD and loneliness, controlling gender and other factors such as substance use, religiosity, eating behavior, depression, game genre, and motivation to play. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3db648c2af6b485798016f83e6a1c005 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-3db648c2af6b485798016f83e6a1c0052025-08-20T03:36:15ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-06-0115784110.3390/bs15070841Psycho-Emotional Factors Associated with Internet Gaming Disorder Among Japanese and Israeli University Students and Other Young AdultsShai-li Romem Porat0Alexander Reznik1Akihiro Masuyama2Daichi Sugawara3Gal Galya Sternberg4Takahiro Kubo5Richard Isralowitz6Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, IsraelRegional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, IsraelFaculty of Psychology, Iryo Sosei University, Iwaki 971-8550, Fukushima, JapanFaculty of Human Services, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, JapanRegional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, IsraelCollege of Education, Yokohama National University, Yokohama 240-8501, Kanagawa, JapanRegional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, IsraelGaming is a popular leisure activity with an increasing number of participants worldwide. It has positive aspects as well as a problematic side—Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). This behavior attracts concern among mental health and education professionals because of possible negative psycho-emotional factors. This study aimed to assess IGD among Japanese and Israeli university students and other young adults. We explored the association of culture and IGD based on gender, burnout, and loneliness. It was hypothesized that IGD would differentiate based on the respondent country (i.e., Japan or Israel) and gender, with males reporting higher levels. Furthermore, IGD would be associated with higher levels of loneliness and burnout, regardless of country. Qualtrics and Excel platforms were used to collect responses to the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short Form, De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and Short Burnout Measure (SBM). Data was gathered from a cross-cultural sample of 1318 male and female university students and other young adults in Japan and Israel, between 2022 and 2023. Japanese gamers showed less IGD (<i>p</i> < 0.05); and males evidenced higher levels regardless of their country (<i>p</i> < 0.001). IGD was significantly associated with loneliness (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and burnout (<i>p</i> < 0.001). However, multiple regression analysis showed that IGD is predicted only by burnout and gender (<i>p</i> < 0.001), Adjusted R<sup>2</sup> = 0.234. This study provides information for policy, prevention, and intervention purposes targeting burnout particularly among males who are a high-risk group. Additionally, this study contributes to possible joint online program development to reduce IGD among Japanese and Israeli gamers. Further research should examine the association between IGD and loneliness, controlling gender and other factors such as substance use, religiosity, eating behavior, depression, game genre, and motivation to play.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/841gaming disorderlonelinessburnoutuniversity studentsJapanIsrael |
| spellingShingle | Shai-li Romem Porat Alexander Reznik Akihiro Masuyama Daichi Sugawara Gal Galya Sternberg Takahiro Kubo Richard Isralowitz Psycho-Emotional Factors Associated with Internet Gaming Disorder Among Japanese and Israeli University Students and Other Young Adults Behavioral Sciences gaming disorder loneliness burnout university students Japan Israel |
| title | Psycho-Emotional Factors Associated with Internet Gaming Disorder Among Japanese and Israeli University Students and Other Young Adults |
| title_full | Psycho-Emotional Factors Associated with Internet Gaming Disorder Among Japanese and Israeli University Students and Other Young Adults |
| title_fullStr | Psycho-Emotional Factors Associated with Internet Gaming Disorder Among Japanese and Israeli University Students and Other Young Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psycho-Emotional Factors Associated with Internet Gaming Disorder Among Japanese and Israeli University Students and Other Young Adults |
| title_short | Psycho-Emotional Factors Associated with Internet Gaming Disorder Among Japanese and Israeli University Students and Other Young Adults |
| title_sort | psycho emotional factors associated with internet gaming disorder among japanese and israeli university students and other young adults |
| topic | gaming disorder loneliness burnout university students Japan Israel |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/841 |
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