The latest China Internet Network Information Center's (CNNIC) report revealed that the growth rate of mobile online game has reached 9.6% and adolescents are the main user group ( 2).
These games are particularly popular when they can be downloaded for free (e.g., “freemium games,” which are free but customers pay for extra features) ( 1). Mobile video games refer to games played by either single or multi players via online mobile devices. With the fast development of mobile technology, many functions of desktop computers have been transferred to mobile devices like ipad and smartphone, which is especially the case for game applications. We also discussed limitations and implications for mental health practice. A further analysis on gender difference in the paths from mobile game addiction to these mental health outcomes was examined, and results revealed that male adolescents tend to report more social anxiety when they use mobile game addictively. We found that mobile game addiction was positively associated with social anxiety, depression, and loneliness. In this study, we examined the relationship between mobile game addition and social anxiety, depression, and loneliness among adolescents. However, very few studies have particularly examined the relationship between mobile game addiction and mental health outcomes, due to a lack of specified instrument for measuring this new type of behavioral addiction.
2Chongqing Youth and Vocational Technical College, Chongqing, ChinaĪs a new type of addictive behaviors and distinct from traditional internet game addiction on desktop computers, mobile game addiction has attracted researchers' attention due to its possible negative effects on mental health issues.1Center for Mental Health Education, School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.Jin-Liang Wang 1 *, Jia-Rong Sheng 1 and Hai-Zhen Wang 2