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Problem Video Game Use and Dimensions of Psychopathology

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine associations between problem video game use and psychopathology. The Video Game Use Questionnaire (VGUQ) and the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) were administered in an international anonymous online survey. The VGUQ was used to identify problem video game users and SCL-90 assessed dimensions of psychopathology. In comparison with other video game players (n = 1789), those with problem video game use (n = 156) had significantly elevated scores on all SCL-90 subscales. When compared to the U.S. male nonpatients, a significantly greater proportion of male video game players exhibited higher levels of all psychopathology. These findings suggest that there is a non-specific relationship between various domains of psychopathology and video game use in general and problem video game use in particular.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to Distinguished Professor E.H. Uhlenhuth, M.D., for permission to use the SCL-90 online and for useful comments on the draft of this paper. We thank the Nepean Clinical School (Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney) for hosting the link to the survey and acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Peter Sammut in data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School—Nepean, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Vladan Starcevic

  2. Nepean Anxiety Disorders Clinic, Sydney West Area Health Service, Penrith, NSW, Australia

    David Berle

  3. Herbert Street Drug & Alcohol Clinic, Royal North Shore Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Guy Porter

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Nepean Hospital, PO Box 63, Penrith, NSW, Australia

    Vladan Starcevic & Pauline Fenech

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  1. Vladan Starcevic
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  2. David Berle
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  4. Pauline Fenech
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Correspondence to Vladan Starcevic.

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Starcevic, V., Berle, D., Porter, G. et al. Problem Video Game Use and Dimensions of Psychopathology. Int J Ment Health Addiction 9, 248–256 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-010-9282-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-010-9282-5

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