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. 2022 Dec 8;11(24):7293.
doi: 10.3390/jcm11247293.

Examining the Indirect Effect of Online Gaming on Depression via Sleep Inequality and Anxiety-A Serial and Parallel Mediation Analysis

Tahani Alshammari  1 , Sarah Alseraye  2 , Aleksandra Rogowska  3 , Nouf Alrasheed  1 , Musaad Alshammari  1
Affiliations

Examining the Indirect Effect of Online Gaming on Depression via Sleep Inequality and Anxiety-A Serial and Parallel Mediation Analysis

Tahani Alshammari et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Stress-related disorders are highly prevalent among first-year college students. Gaming disorder (GD) is an emerging disorder linked to physical and psychological consequences. We aimed to investigate the mechanism linking GD with anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders among first-year undergraduate students. Four hundred fifty-seven participants were recruited, and the survey included the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale Short-Form (IGDS9-SF), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Our results showed that female students scored significantly higher than males in anxiety and depression. Furthermore, we found that depression is positively and strongly correlated to anxiety, and both are moderately associated with sleep quality. Gaming is positively related to depression, anxiety, and sleep quality. Interestingly, the health sciences tracks showed lower sleep quality than undergraduates from other tracks. There was a 64% variance in depression explained by many predictors, including anxiety, sleep quality, gaming, painkiller use, and gender. In addition, the mediation models showed that the association between gaming and depression is mediated indirectly by sleep quality, and sleep quality may be mediated directly by anxiety. The first year in college occurs at a critical developmental and professional stage, and our results highlight the need to establish support programs and conduct mental health educational workshops.

Keywords: anxiety; depression; first-year college students; gaming disorder; mental health; sleep quality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pearson’s correlation between depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and gaming in a sample of undergraduates (n = 457). Note: All correlations are significant at p < 0.001. The solid gray line represents the regression slope; the purple dashed line shows a 95% confidence interval; and the green dashed line means 95% prediction intervals.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mediating Model 1 for depression (parallel mediation). Note: The numbers on the paths are standardized β coefficients. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mediating Model 2 for depression (serial mediation). Note: The numbers on the paths are standardized β coefficients. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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