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. 2017 Feb;20(2):104-108.
doi: 10.1089/cyber.2016.0451. Epub 2017 Jan 24.

Delay Discounting of Video Game Players: Comparison of Time Duration Among Gamers

Frank D Buono  1   2 , Matthew E Sprong  3 , Daniel P Lloyd  1   2 , Christopher J Cutter  1 , Destiny M B Printz  1 , Ryan M Sullivan  2 , Brent A Moore  1   2
Affiliations

Delay Discounting of Video Game Players: Comparison of Time Duration Among Gamers

Frank D Buono et al. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Video game addiction or Internet game disorder, as proposed by the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), has similar criterion characteristics to other impulse control disorders. There is limited research examining video game addiction within a behavioral economic framework using delay discounting. The current study evaluated delay-discounting patterns of money and video game play by usual weekly hours of video game play. A total of 104 participants were split into 1 of 3 groups of video game players (low, medium, and high) and were asked to complete a monetary and video game discounting procedure through an online survey. Results showed significant differences between groups within both the monetary (p = 0.003) and video game discounting procedures (p = 0.004). Additionally, a positive linear relationship was noted between the groups across both procedures. The results of the current article reinforce previous findings that more hours of video game use are associated with greater impulsivity and provide implications for future research.

Keywords: Internet gaming disorder; behavioral economics; delay discounting; impulsivity.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist.

Figures

<b>FIG. 1.</b>
FIG. 1.
Normative values of monetary temporal discounting across the time delay in weeks within the three preidentified populations.
<b>FIG. 2.</b>
FIG. 2.
Normative values of video game temporal discounting across the time delay in hours within the three preidentified populations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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