Journal of Korean Medical Science
Volume 34, Issue 23, 2019

A comparison of risk and protective factors for excessive internet game play between Koreans in Korea and immigrant Koreans in the United States (Article) (Open Access)

Hong J.S. , Kim S.M. , Jung J.-W. , Kim S.Y. , Chung U.-S. , Han D.H.*
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Chung Ang University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Chung Ang University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
  • c Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Ang University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
  • d Department of Psychiatry, Chung Ang University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
  • e Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
  • f Department of Psychiatry, Chung Ang University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea

Abstract

Background: Studying immigrants may have the potential to explore how cultural and environmental changes affect the internet game play patterns of individuals in the two countries. We planned to compare risk and preventive factors for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) between Korean adolescents in Korea and immigrant Koreans in the US. Methods: Ninety-four Koreans and 133 immigrant Koreans were recruited. Independent factors consisted of five domains including demographic data, physical activity, academic, art, and music activities, psychological factors, and game and media play. The dependent variable in the current study was the high-risk group of IGD, which was assessed with Young's Internet Addiction Scale scores. To determine the protective and risk factors for IGD, we performed a multiple logistic regression analysis using the high-risk group as the dependent variable. Results: Five domains affected the risk for IGD in Korean and immigrant Korean groups. Vigorous physical activity was the strongest protective factor for IGD in the Korean group, while media activity was the strongest protective factor for IGD in immigrant Koreans in the US. Conclusion: The results indicate that internet gaming problems might be affected by environmental factors and it is recommended that gaming activity is substituted with physical activity, extracurricular classes, books, and music. © 2019 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.

Author Keywords

Internet gaming disorder Reading books physical activity Immigrant Koreans

Index Keywords

South Korea Republic of Korea exercise video game human Video Games comparative study pathology Logistic Models Internet Surveys and Questionnaires United States Humans migrant psychology Adolescent Psychology, Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants child psychology female risk factor Risk Factors questionnaire addiction statistical model Behavior, Addictive
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85067366412&doi=10.3346%2fjkms.2019.34.e162&partnerID=40&md5=7db6dfbd0f64ed137705955cd69d28a2
DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e162
ISSN: 10118934
Original Language: English