Running Head: ARTICLE REVIEW 1

Article Review

Name

Institution
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Article Review

Mathews, C. L., Morrell, H. E., & Molle, J. E. (2019). Video game addiction, ADHD

symptomatology, and video game reinforcement. The American Journal of Drug and

Alcohol Abuse, 45(1), 67-76.

Purpose of the Study

The study’s purpose was to identify whether the kind of game played subjects people

suffering from chronic ADHD are at a risk of developing video game dependence.

Subjects

The study comprised of 2, 801 gaming players aged between eighteen and fifty-seven.

They asked the researchers to hide their identity.

Procedure

The subjects were recruited through the internet using adverts on placed on gaming

forums. Others learnt about the study through referrals from a friend. The advert stated that the

study aimed to gather data on how various video game players take part in gaming to inform on

gaming habits that are healthy. It also mentioned that the subjects would answer questions on

demographic information, gaming addiction, gaming habits, ADHD, as well as other substance.

They participants accessed the questions via an online survey link hosted by (35). There was no

incentive for participating in the research. The researchers used Young’s Internet Addiction

Scale to uncover problematic gaming habits. The Conner’s Adult ADHD Rating Scale, a self-

reporting measure was to evaluate ADHD symptoms in adults. Lastly, participants answered two

questions indicating, which game type they most preferred.

Treatment of Data
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Data analysis involved SPSS utilizing two distinct hierarchical multiple linear regression

to establish if or not the kind of game, severe ADHD symptoms, the game type and ADHD

symptoms’ interactions can predict video game addiction. Game type preferred formed were

categorical predictors and were coded through contrast coding in which each genre was

compared to MMORPGs. MMORPGs are among the highest reinforcing game types.

Results

The game type, which a person plays a lot provided a significant data showing the

variance in severity of dependence. The severity of ADHD symptoms were largely and

progressively linked to dependence severity as well as explained the large percentage of the

difference in dependence gravity in addition to covariates and the kind of game played. The

terms of individual interactions that were noteworthy in terms of the kind of game preferred or

played most included Board/Card, Racing, and Real Time strategy. However, their effect

proportions were slight to show any clinical or practical implication. Age was negatively linked

to addiction severity while number of hours a person played a game weekly were confidently

correlate to the gravity of dependence. Additionally, males were reported to have greater

addiction severity than females. Lastly, the results showed that game type that an individual

played or favored most was classified as both their most boosting game type as well as one that

encouraged them to continue to play.

Discussion of the Results

The results indicated that the severity of ADHD symptoms and severity of gaming

addiction differs based on the preferred game type or one that is played the most. Those with

greater ADHD symptoms had severe addiction to video game irrespective of the genre of the

game most preferred or played. The preferred or played game type were not predictors of severe
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addiction to video games that is clinically. They accounted for 0.5 percent of the difference in

addiction severity. This contradicts past research that indicated that game type projected

problematic behaviors of playing. Individuals reported that the preferred game and one that is

played the most is most reinforcing and encouraged continued video game playing, which means

there is no ranking game reinforcement system, which universally applies to all gamers. Lastly,

the severity of ADHD symptoms predicts addiction to video games, which means that people

with greater symptoms are at a risk of developing problematic playing habits.

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Reference

Mathews, C. L., Morrell, H. E., & Molle, J. E. (2019). Video game addiction, ADHD

symptomatology, and video game reinforcement. The American Journal of Drug and

Alcohol Abuse, 45(1), 67-76.