An examination of the relationships between internet gaming disorder, irrational beliefs, coping strategies and self-regulation skills

The aim of the current study is to investigate relationships between irrational beliefs, coping strategies, self-regulation skill and level of internet gaming disorder depends on A Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Pathological Internet Use. The sample comprises two groups: addictive (N= 31) and non-clinical (N= 30). The addictive group consists of adolescents (14-18 years) who applied to Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurologial Diseases Hospital and diagnosed with internet gaming disorder. The non-clinical group consists of adolescents (14-18 years) who applied to The Pediatric Outpatient Clinic of Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital and met inclusion criterias. Demographic information form, Short Form of Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, Irrational Beliefs-Adolescent Form, The Adolescent Self-Regulatory Inventory and Kidcope were applied to participants. The data were evaluated with four analyzes: Comparative analysis for examining main variables in terms of demographic variables, independent two sample t-test for differences between the groups, correlation analysis for relationships between main variables and, regression analysis for predictive relations. According to results, level of internet gaming disorder and unsuccessful self-regulation were higher in participants who have psychiatric disorders other than internet gaming disorder or as a comorbid disorder compare to others. This finding was supported by another evidence showing that gaming disorder level and self-regulation skill significantly differs based on regular medicine use. Irrational beliefs and coping startegies did not differ according to demographic variables. Although there was no difference in the comparison of addictive and non-clinical groups for these two variables, the level of internet gaming disorder and unsuccessful self-regulation were higher in the addictive group. Also, unsuccessful self-regulation which included in the model within the scope of this study significantly predicted level of internet gaming disorder. Possible reasons of not finding a relationship between internet gaming disorder and other variables, limitations and implications were discussed in the discussion section.