Cognitive and Mental Health Characteristics of Korean Adults at High Risk for Gaming Disorder

Gaming disorder, also referred to as game addiction, has garnered increasing clinical attention and was officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018. Previously categorized alongside behavioral addictions such as gambling, gaming disorder shares key characteristics, including compulsive engagement and persistent behavior despite adverse consequences. Psychological risk factors include high impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and stress, often exacerbating mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Despite its global recognition, research on gaming disorder in Korean adults remains limited, leaving a gap in understanding how individuals exhibit traits associated with the disorder. This study aims to characterize the psychological traits of high-risk individuals for game disorder in Korea and compare them with low-risk individuals. Findings revealed that high-risk individuals are more prone to addictive behaviors such as internet addiction, binge eating, pathological gambling, and nicotine dependence, though not alcohol addiction. They were also characterized by higher impulsivity, lower self-control, and poorer emotion regulation, particularly a reduced use of cognitive reappraisal strategy. Furthermore, high-risk individuals reported elevated levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. These findings highlight potential risk factors for gaming disorder in adults and provide a foundation for developing targeted screening tools and early intervention strategies for at-risk individuals.