Association Between Mental Health Problems and Internet Gaming Disorder Using Clinical Diagnostic Interviews: A Two-Year School-Based Longitudinal Study

This study aimed to determine the relationships between mental health problems and IGD in children and adolescents from a school-based cohort in Korea. A total of 2319 family dyads were enrolled at baseline and followed up at 12 and 24 months. At baseline, parent’s face-to-face interviews were performed by trained laypersons using the DISC-IV to detect children’s mental health problems. Children’s IGD status was confirmed through face-to-face interviews using the Diagnostic Interview for Internet Gaming Addiction (DIA) at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. To estimate the probability of IGD over time, we used longitudinal generalized estimating equation regression of the baseline, 12-, and 24-month outcomes into a single model. Of 2319 participants, 94 (4.1%) were classified as having a mental health problem at baseline. During the two follow-up visits, 115 (5.0%) participants were clinically diagnosed with IGD at least once. Any diagnosis of mental health problems was associated with increased odds of IGD over a 2-year period after adjusting for potential confounders (aOR 2.24, 95% CI 1.11–4.53, p = 0.025). These findings suggest that mental health concerns may precede IGD and that addressing psychological concerns could be a promising approach in interventions for IGD among children and adolescents.