Association between Internet Gaming Disorder and Associated Parental and Peer Attachment: A Crosssectional Study among Thai Adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33192/smj.v77i8.273394Keywords:
Internet Gaming Disorder, Prevalence, Parental Attachment, Peer Attachment, AdolescentsAbstract
Objective: This study examined the prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and its association with parental and peer attachment among Thai adolescents, accounting for gender and developmental stages.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional design involved 783 parent-adolescent pairs (4th-9th grade, Thailand). Online questionnaires, including the Thai version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF) and the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment-Revised for Children (IPPA-R), were used. Multivariable logistic regression analyzed the data.
Results: The overall IGD prevalence was 14.0%, higher in males (18.3%) and 4th-6th graders (17.5%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that a 1-year increase in adolescent age (OR 0.8, p=0.002), male sex (OR 2.1, p=0.003), parental report of adolescents playing online games (>18 hours/week) (OR 3.9, p<0.001), adolescent report of their playing online games (>16 hours/week) (OR 2.3, p=0.001), and studying in public school (OR 0.4, p<0.001), and a 1-point increase in the IPPA-R parent scale (OR 0.9, p<0.001) were significantly associated with IGD. No significant interaction terms for gender and developmental stages were identified.
Conclusion: Early male adolescents are at higher IGD risk. Poor parental attachment is associated with increased IGD likelihood. Preventive strategies focusing on strengthening parental attachment may help mitigate IGD in this population.
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