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The interplay among stress, frustration tolerance, mindfulness, and social support in I nternet gaming disorder symptoms among Chinese working adults
Author(s) -
Yu Shu,
Mao Sijie,
Wu Anise M.S.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/appy.12319
Subject(s) - mindfulness , psychology , protective factor , clinical psychology , social support , mental health , social psychology , psychiatry , medicine
Abstract Introduction Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a growing mental health threat across age groups, but existing literature regarding IGD mainly focuses on student populations. Empirical investigation of the risk and protective factors in adult populations is warranted. This study aimed to fill the research gap by examining whether stress and 3 positive psychology factors (ie, frustration tolerance, mindfulness, and social support) are associated with IGD symptoms in working adults. It was also the first attempt to test the buffering effects of these positive psychology factors on the relationship between stress and IGD vulnerability. Method This cross‐sectional study was conducted in Shenzhen, China. We recruited 327 full‐time working Chinese adults (mean age = 31.93 years), who had online gaming experience and voluntarily completed an anonymous questionnaire with DSM‐5 criteria to measure their IGD symptoms. Results Internet gaming disorder symptoms were positively correlated with stress and negatively correlated with the 3 positive psychology factors, among which mindfulness emerged as the most salient protective factor. Moreover, mindfulness, but not frustration tolerance and social support, was found to significantly alleviate the relationship between stress and IGD. Discussion Our findings provide supportive evidence for the protective and moderating roles of positive psychology variables against IGD among Chinese working adults. Workplace‐based prevention programs may take the identified factors into account to help promote individuals' personal resources to mitigate development of IGD.