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Parental and Family Factors Associated with Problematic Gaming and Problematic Internet Use in Adolescents: a Systematic Literature Review

  • Technology Addiction (J Billieux, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Some adolescents may develop problematic gaming (PG) or problematic Internet use (PIU). We reviewed the literature on associations between specific parental/family (PF) characteristics and adolescents’ PG and PIU.

Recent Findings

Increasingly, links are being reported between PF factors and PG and PIU. However, questions remain about the nature of the factors involved and the strength of their link with PG and PIU. We addressed these questions in the present review.

Summary

Our systematic literature search identified 27 research papers on PG and 73 on PIU and distinguished six categories of parental/family factors. For each category, PF factors were connected with both PG and PIU. The effect size was often small. Across categories, the protective factors (positive parenting and positive family dynamics) were associated with lower rates of PG and PIU and the risk factors (negative parenting and negative family dynamics) with higher rates. On average, the PF factors carried as much weight as intrapersonal characteristics of the adolescents.

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Abbreviations

DSM:

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders

ICD:

International Classification of Diseases

IGD:

Internet Gaming Disorder

PF:

parental and family (factor)

PG:

problematic gaming

PIU:

problematic Internet use

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mafalda Burri and Muriel Leclerc, Service de référence, University of Geneva Library, for assisting us in identifying search terms, developing the search strategies and equations, and for carrying out the database searches.

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  1. Unité de psychologie clinique des relations interpersonnelles, FPSE, University of Geneva, Boulevard Pont-d’Arve 40, 1204, Geneva, Switzerland

    Philip Nielsen & Nicolas Favez

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, the Netherlands

    Henk Rigter

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The authors jointly developed the study concept. The review was designed and carried out by PN and HR and supervised by NF. PN and HR wrote the paper, with critical input and assistance with data interpretation from NF. All authors had full access to all study data and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

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Nielsen, P., Favez, N. & Rigter, H. Parental and Family Factors Associated with Problematic Gaming and Problematic Internet Use in Adolescents: a Systematic Literature Review. Curr Addict Rep 7, 365–386 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-020-00320-0

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