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Internet Gaming Disorder: Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Gamers

Open access
The arrival of the internet in the development of technology is one of the great successes for mankind. The information that used to be accessible only physically, now can be retrieved just at the fingertips ever since the existence of the internet network. Physical games can also be adapted and have gone through a phase of innovation into the screen. Even so, the presence of this internet game has also created various issues for its players in a negative way and one of it is internet gaming disorder (IGD). For those experiencing IGD will have symptoms such as confusion towards daily routines, negative effects on health and in extreme cases are able to disengage themselves from the real world. This study was conducted to examine how the existence of internet games can impact the mental health of internet game players in Malaysia. This includes their level of depression, stress, and anxiety. A set of questionnaires was used to collect data and a total of 118 were successfully analyzed. The result of the study shows that there is a strong and positive relationship between IGD and all three psychological distress: depression, stress, and anxiety. The result of the study also shows that the three psychological distress can be predictors of IGD. Some recommendations are also given for future research.
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