Gaming Disorder in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Alayna Murray, Arlene Mannion, June L Chen and 1 others
PMID 34184139WHAT IT FOUND
Adults with autism showed more gaming disorder symptoms than controls, with 9.1% meeting the screening cut-off versus 2.9%.
Introversion, feeling alienated from peers, and difficulty changing thoughts to manage emotions predicted higher gaming disorder symptoms.
Key findings
01Adults with ASD reported significantly more gaming disorder symptoms than typically developing controls.
02Introversion, peer alienation, and low cognitive reappraisal were significant predictors of gaming disorder symptoms.
03Gaming disorder symptoms and gelotophobia (fear of being laughed at) were significantly correlated.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study used a cross-sectional design, so causation cannot be inferred. Data relied entirely on self-report measures, which can be unreliable. The sample was recruited via convenience sampling (social media, support groups), which may introduce selection bias. The gender distribution was imbalanced (more females than typical for ASD samples), which may affect generalizability. The regression model explained only a small portion (12%) of the variance in gaming disorder symptoms.
Declared interests
The study was funded by National University Ireland, Galway. No other conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the higher prevalence of gaming disorder symptoms in the ASD group as a diagnosis of addiction. The screening tool used is not diagnostic, and the cross-sectional design means we do not know if autism leads to gaming issues or if other factors drive both.