Latent classes of gaming disorder symptoms by gender: associations with problematic social media use, psychosomatic symptoms, bullying, and social support in adolescents.

BACKGROUND

Although significant gender differences exist in gaming disorder (GD), existing GD typologies among adolescents have provided limited insight into the differences and similarities in latent classes specific to females and males. Additionally, despite the importance of interpersonal factors in GD, typologies have not yet thoroughly explored their roles in gaming subtypes.

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to identify latent classes of GD symptom severity separately among female and male adolescents and to compare these classes across various intrapersonal and interpersonal factors.

METHODS

Data from two representative samples of Hungarian adolescents from the 2018 and 2022 waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study were analyzed (N = 3170 and 3550, respectively). Self-reported questionnaires assessed GD symptom severity, perceived support (family, friends, teachers), involvement in school bullying and cyberbullying, life satisfaction, psychosomatic symptoms, and problematic social media use.

RESULTS

Two to three latent classes were identified for both genders, representing low-, moderate-, and high-risk levels for GD. Membership in classes with more severe GD symptoms was consistently linked to higher problematic social media use, psychosomatic symptoms, bullying involvement, and lower social support across both genders.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified classes revealed similar symptom profiles between females and males. While moderate-risk and high-risk classes were more prevalent among males, the findings may also suggest a narrowing gender gap in GD risk. Similar patterns were observed in the intra- and interpersonal correlates of moderate- and high-risk classes across genders, linking GD risk to problematic social media use and bullying.