Profiling gaming disorder risk: the role of family communication and vertical individualism

<p dir="ltr">Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is characterized by persistent gaming behavior that causes significant social and personal impairment. While most research has focused on individual and game-related factors contributing to IGD, less attention has been given to environmental influences such as family communication (FC), vertically individualistic (VI) values and their interaction effect. This study aimed to (1) profile adult and adolescent gamers based on their FC experiences, (2) examine differences in IGD levels across distinct FC profiles, and (3) assess whether FC moderates the relationship between VI values and IGD risk. A longitudinal design was employed with 565 gamers (ages 12–68, M = 29.27), 276 of whom participated in a six-month follow-up. Latent Profile Analysis conducted at the initial time point identified two FC profiles among adults: ‘Positive Family Communication’ (71.7%) and ‘Negative Family Communication’ (28.3%). Among adolescents, four distinct profiles emerged: Average Family Communication (44.6%), Positive Family Communication (14.9%), Average but Unsatisfied Family Communication (16.2%), and Negative Family Communication (24.3%). Significant differences in IGD levels were observed across these profiles for both age groups. However, FC did not significantly moderate the relationship between VI values and IGD risk at either time point. These results highlight the role of environmental factors in the development of IGD, with distinct patterns observed between adolescents and adults. Recognizing age-specific environmental influences on IGD can help inform more targeted treatment strategies.</p>