Improving the Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder

Objective: The present study aimed to examine whether the treatment of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) inadolescents via Attentional Bias Modification (ABM) improves their health-related quality of life.Method: ۳۴ adolescents with IGD who were ۱۲-۱۷ years old were randomly assigned to experimental (n = ۱۶) andcontrol (n = ۱۸) groups. The experimental group received ABM, while no interventions were delivered to the controlgroup. Attentional bias, IGD severity, and health-related quality of life were assessed using Modified Stroop Task,Internet Gaming Disorder-۲۰ (IGD-۲۰), and KIDSCREEN-۵۲ questionnaires, respectively. Data from pre-test, posttest, and two months follow-up measurements were analyzed using two-way mixed measures ANOVA and Fisher’sleast significant difference (LSD) via SPSS software.Results: ABM successfully reduced attentional bias and IGD severity and improved health-related quality of life inadolescents of the experimental group (p < ۰.۰۵). These significant changes were observed at post-test and two monthsfollow-up. Meanwhile, no significant change occurred in the control group (p > ۰.۰۵).Conclusion: It could be concluded that ABM not only reduces the severity of IGD in adolescents, but also improvestheir health-related quality of life, although further research is required for the understanding of its mechanisms ofeffects.

Keywords:

Internet Gaming Disorder , Quality of Life , Health Promotion , Attentional Bias Modification , Adolescents