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Problematic video game use, internet addiction, and internet gaming addiction or disorder are interconnecting terms in the literature that have become increasingly more common in the past decade. In 2013 the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 included Internet Gaming Disorder as a condition warranting more research (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Internet gaming addiction, including what has been called pathological gaming or gaming disorder, has developed rapidly and is an emerging behavioral problem for adolescents in many countries (King, Delfabbro, Griffiths, & Gradisar, 2011). Internet Gaming Addiction has been defined as losing control to excessive gaming or internet use despite negative consequences (Grant, Potenza, Weinstein, & Gorelick, 2010). Similarly to addictions of drugs and alcohol, one of the first warning signs of internet and gaming addiction is isolation from family and social events when video gaming takes precedence over all situations in the child or adolescents life (Young 2009).

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Internet Addiction (IA) and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) are emerging interconnected behavioral problems for many adolescents. Several psychosocial treatment methods have been used to treat IA/IGD but little is known on the efficacy of these approaches. A critical review of the literature was conducted that yielded 281 search results of which seven articles, that meet inclusion criteria were investigated. The review of these studies highlighted several limitations including (a) a lack of blinding techniques and randomization (b) a lack of information on sample characteristics and interventionist/clinician characteristics (c) inconsistencies in measures used to diagnosis IA/IGD and (d) a lack of other comparison groups. Adhering to improvements in future studies’ design would benefit clinicians in identifying appropriate treatment modalities to incorporate with adolescents who are diagnosed with IA/IGD.

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Previous research studies and media reports have advised that a number of adolescents frequently play video games in excess which results in problematic video gaming, however less research has been conducted on the effect of parental monitoring on frequency of video game play among US adolescent. By analyzing data from a national US survey of adolescent ages 13-17 years old (n=1638) from various ethnic and racial backgrounds this study aims to examine the effect of parental monitoring on adolescent frequency of video game play in the context of in-person video game play and online video game play. Multiple Regression analysis was conducted to examine frequency of video gaming of adolescents with friends in person, and with friends online by age, gender, race, ethnicity, and parental monitoring. When controlling for age, gender, race, and ethnicity the results found that parental monitoring had no effect on frequency of adolescent video game playing. Future research considerations should address the potential effect of frequency of adolescent video game play to develop into excessive problematic gaming and the role of parental monitoring by age, gender, race and ethnicity of adolescents over a longitudinal period.

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Adolescents lack comprehensive, accurate, and adequate information regarding sexuality and safe sexual behaviors. Sexuality health education Web sites and social media pages are a promising medium to deliver sexuality health education to adolescents and perhaps increase adolescent sexual health. This article reviews diverse literature to highlight the current relevance of sexuality education Web sites, social media pages, and internet based applications with respect to their potential benefits to encourage healthy sexual development in adolescents. Although using the internet via webpages and social media sites is a primary method of communication and learning for adolescents, literature regarding the efficiency, quality, and effectiveness of these types of Web sites or applications is lacking. Methods to investigate the impact of these Web sites or internet based applications on adolescent sexual health are offered from an organizational performance measurement perspective. Developing evaluation methods for sexuality education Web sites and social media pages may provide evidence needed to advance their status as a supported outlet of information for adolescents.

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Background: A rapidly growing body of literature has identified that problematic Internet use (PIU) is increasingly prevalent among youth worldwide. Youth with PIU evidence health issues, mental distress symptoms, and behavioral problems. However, very few studies have examined characteristics and psychosocial correlates of PIU among racial/ethnic minority youth. Moreover, psychometric properties of many measurements for PIU have only been tested with White and Asian youth. Thus, this study aims to: (1) examine the psychometric properties of the Problem Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ), a widely-used measure for PIU, in a sample of Black and Latino youth; and, (2) investigate the differences in characteristics and psychosocial correlates of PIU between youth with PIU and their non-PIU peers using a latent class analysis (LCA). Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face classroom setting using Qualtrics survey software to record responses. Most of the sample (69.2%) was African American, and 27.1% were Latino/a. More than half (63.6%) were female (35.6% male). Confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) was used to examine the validity of the 18-item PIUQ based on the factor structure suggested by empirical evidence. LCA was used to identify clusters of youth according to their response patterns. The item responses were treated as categorical variables (5-level). Bayesian information criteria, the Vuong-Lo-Mendell-Rubin test, and Bootstrap likelihood ratio test were used to identify the appropriate number of classes. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the levels of PIU and psychosocial correlates with the identified latent classes. Results: The CFA supported a 3-factor structure of the PIUQ (i.e., obsession with Internet use, neglecting obligations due to Internet use, and diminished control over Internet use) in this sample [χ2 (83) = 142.66, p < .001, RMSEA = .055, CFI = .96]. Three items were removed from the PIUQ due to low factor loadings (< .40). LCA was conducted using the remaining 15 items of the PIUQ, and identified a 3-classes solution as the optimal model. The classes were labelled as: normal use (n = 70, 29.5%), intense use (n = 125, 52.7%), and problematic use (n = 42, 17.8%). In addition, one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in levels of PIU, parental monitoring, and sleep problems among youths who were classified as problematic, intense and normal users (p < .05). Conclusion and Implications: The CFA demonstrated that the PIUQ is a valid measure to assess PIU among racial/ethnic minority youth. LCA categorized 3 levels of Internet use in this sample. Findings demonstrate the significance of using LCA to explore clusters of youth on Internet use given that no valid cut-off scores for measures of PIU have been established. Moreover, almost 20% of the sample were identified as having PIU. Youth who were classified as problematic users evidenced significantly higher levels of PIU, more severe sleep problems, and lower levels of parental monitoring compared to their peers who were classified as normal and intense users. Implications to research and clinical practice will be discussed.

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Background: Adverse life experiences, such as having a parent or caregiver misuse/abuse drug/alcohol or becoming a caregiver for a family member, have been found to be associated with substance misuse among Latinx youth and adults (Madruga et al., 2011). In addition, early adverse life experiences have been identified as a risk factor for problematic gaming (Bussone et al., 2020; Grajewski & Dragen, 2020). Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become increasingly prevalent in youths worldwide and is associated with various psychosocial impairments. In addition, limited literature has investigated these variables among Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents: 18.1% (Latinx) and 13.1% (non-Latinx Black) (CITE?), and have found that Latinx and non-Latinx Black youth engage in more frequent use of video gaming when compared to their White peers (CITE?). This study aims to provide an understanding of how adverse life experiences, substance misuse, and IGD impact youth in a sample of Latinx and non-Latinx black and youths. Methods: The sample consisted mainly of Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents. Data were collected from 247 youth (M age=16.0, SD=1.2), 63.6% were female, a majority (69.2%) were non-Latinx Black, and 27.1% were Latinx. Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face setting using Qualtrics survey software to record the responses. Of the 247 youth, 63.6% were girls, 35.6% were boys. Most of the sample (69.2%) were Non-Latinx black, and 27.1% were Latinx. Youths’ IGD, adverse life events, substance misuse, and were assessed using standardized measures. Data regarding adverse life experiences, substance misuse and IGD was measured using the Adverse Life Events Scale, the DSM-5 Cross Cutting Assessment, the Internet Gaming Disorder-20 and the Problematic Internet Use Scale. A regression analysis was carried out to investigate whether IGD could significantly predict youth’s adverse life experiences and substance misuse. Results: Increasing hours of time spent gaming was a significant predictor of misusing tobacco products and/or medications like painkiller, stimulants, sedatives, cocaine, or hallucinogens, F (3, 107) = 5.7, p < .05. The results of the regression indicated that the model explained 10% of the variance and that a higher IGD score was a significant predictor of the youth having a family member with a mental/emotional problem, F (17, 214) = 1.3, p < .05. In addition, the results of a separate regression indicated that the model explained 11% of the variance and that higher problematic internet use scores was a significant predictor of the youth having a family member with a drug/alcohol problem F (17, 214) = 1.5, p = .01. Discussion: Both substance misuse and problematic gaming are emotional coping strategies for dealing with adverse life experiences, and while they are not ideal coping mechanisms, they present a way to relieve present stress (Blasi et al., 2019; Iaocovides and Mekler, 2019), and are even called ‘self-medicating’ behaviors (Garland et al., 2013). By understanding the association between early adverse life experiences and problematic behaviors, there is opportunity for social workers to heal the trauma causing the issues.

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Problematic Internet use (PIU) and problematic video gaming (PVG) are associated with various negative health outcomes and are increasingly concerning behavioral health issues among youth. While market research indicates that US Latinx use the Internet and video games more frequently than non-Latinx US youth, research on PIU and PVG among this historically understudied population is lacking. Accordingly, data on PIU, PVG, parental monitoring, sleep quality, substance use, anxiety, depression, parental attachment, acculturation, and positive future orientation were collected using validated standardized measures from three separate samples of US Latinx and non-Latinx youth

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With the exponential growth of online information seeking by young people, it is imperative for health and sexual health educators to consider online information a resource young people will pursue. Access to accurate and comprehensive sexual health information is important, yet there is a scarcity of research evaluating the quality of this information. Using youth-direct search terms, this study examined the quality of online information accessed with respect to usability and reliability. The top three US-based websites with the highest return rates were the US Centers for Disease Control, Planned Parenthood, and WebMD. Each of these websites was assessed using the Health Information Website Quality Assessment (HIWQA) to examine the quality of sexual health information provided. Results indicated that the reliability of sexual health information was highest on the CDC website while usability was highest on …

ABSTRACT

Problematic video game use, internet addiction, and internet gaming addiction or disorder are interconnecting terms in the literature that have become increasingly more common in the past decade. In 2013 the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 included Internet Gaming Disorder as a condition warranting more research (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Internet gaming addiction, including what has been called pathological gaming or gaming disorder, has developed rapidly and is an emerging behavioral problem for adolescents in many countries (King, Delfabbro, Griffiths, & Gradisar, 2011). Internet Gaming Addiction has been defined as losing control to excessive gaming or internet use despite negative consequences (Grant, Potenza, Weinstein, & Gorelick, 2010). Similarly to addictions of drugs and alcohol, one of the first warning signs of internet and gaming addiction is isolation from family and social events when video gaming takes precedence over all situations in the child or adolescents life (Young 2009).

ABSTRACT

Internet Addiction (IA) and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) are emerging interconnected behavioral problems for many adolescents. Several psychosocial treatment methods have been used to treat IA/IGD but little is known on the efficacy of these approaches. A critical review of the literature was conducted that yielded 281 search results of which seven articles, that meet inclusion criteria were investigated. The review of these studies highlighted several limitations including (a) a lack of blinding techniques and randomization (b) a lack of information on sample characteristics and interventionist/clinician characteristics (c) inconsistencies in measures used to diagnosis IA/IGD and (d) a lack of other comparison groups. Adhering to improvements in future studies’ design would benefit clinicians in identifying appropriate treatment modalities to incorporate with adolescents who are diagnosed with IA/IGD.

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Background: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become increasingly prevalent in youths worldwide and associated with physical and psychosocial impairments. DSM-5 proposed nine criteria for the potential diagnosis of IGD and noted that further empirical research on the psychometric properties of measurement instruments for IGD are warranted. In response to the DSM-5 directive, this study evaluated the psychometric properties of Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD-20) in a sample of African American and Latino youth. The development of the 20-item IGD-20 was guided by the nine DSM-5 IGD criteria. However, the IGD-20 had previously only been examined among White youth. In addition, few studies have examined IGD among racial/ethnic minority youth who are not White or Asian. Thus, this study explored the characteristics of gaming behaviors and psychosocial factors of IGD in a sample primarily consisting of African American and Latino youths. Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face setting using Qualtrics survey software to record the responses. Of the 247 youth, 63.6% were girls, 35.6% were boys. Most of the sample (69.2%) were African American, and 27.1% were Latino/a. Youths’ IGD, problematic Internet use, substance abuse, and mental distress symptoms were assessed using standardized measures. Youth reported sociodemographic information. Confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) was used to examine the validity of the IGD-20 based on the factor structure suggested by empirical evidence. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the differences in characteristics of gaming behaviors and psychosocial correlates between youths with IGD and non-IGD. Results: The CFA indicated a reasonable fit of a 6-factor structure of the IGD-20 (i.e., salience, tolerance, withdrawal, mood alteration, negative consequences, lack of control over gaming behaviors) in this sample [χ2 (139) = 265.59, p < .001, RMSEA = .067, CFI = .94]. Approximately 2.4% of the sample met the suggested cut-off score for IGD (IGD-20 > 71) Bivariate test revealed that significantly more youths with IGD reported playing video games on the Internet than their non-IGD peers (p < .001). Moreover, youths with IGD evidenced significantly higher levels of problematic Internet use behaviors (p < .001), substance abuse problems (p < .001), and sleep problems (p < .05) compared to those who did not have IGD. IGD was significantly positively correlated with problem Internet use (r = .28, p < .001). No significant difference was observed in IGD between boys and girls (p > .05). Conclusion and Implications: The CFA demonstrated that the IGD-20 may be used as a valid measure for assessing IGD among racial/ethnic minority youth, specifically among African American and Latino/a youth. Despite the relative low prevalence rate of IGD in this sample, findings suggest that youths with IGD have significantly more severe substance abuse, sleep problems, and problematic Internet use behaviors compared to their non-IGD counterparts. Accordingly, clinicians and service providers may need to screen and assess for IGD among youths at risk for other behavioral problems. Implications to research and clinical practice will be discussed.

ABSTRACT

Background: A rapidly growing body of literature has identified that problematic Internet use (PIU) is increasingly prevalent among youth worldwide. Youth with PIU evidence health issues, mental distress symptoms, and behavioral problems. However, very few studies have examined characteristics and psychosocial correlates of PIU among racial/ethnic minority youth. Moreover, psychometric properties of many measurements for PIU have only been tested with White and Asian youth. Thus, this study aims to: (1) examine the psychometric properties of the Problem Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ), a widely-used measure for PIU, in a sample of Black and Latino youth; and, (2) investigate the differences in characteristics and psychosocial correlates of PIU between youth with PIU and their non-PIU peers using a latent class analysis (LCA). Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face classroom setting using Qualtrics survey software to record responses. Most of the sample (69.2%) was African American, and 27.1% were Latino/a. More than half (63.6%) were female (35.6% male). Confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) was used to examine the validity of the 18-item PIUQ based on the factor structure suggested by empirical evidence. LCA was used to identify clusters of youth according to their response patterns. The item responses were treated as categorical variables (5-level). Bayesian information criteria, the Vuong-Lo-Mendell-Rubin test, and Bootstrap likelihood ratio test were used to identify the appropriate number of classes. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the levels of PIU and psychosocial correlates with the identified latent classes. Results: The CFA supported a 3-factor structure of the PIUQ (i.e., obsession with Internet use, neglecting obligations due to Internet use, and diminished control over Internet use) in this sample [χ2 (83) = 142.66, p < .001, RMSEA = .055, CFI = .96]. Three items were removed from the PIUQ due to low factor loadings (< .40). LCA was conducted using the remaining 15 items of the PIUQ, and identified a 3-classes solution as the optimal model. The classes were labelled as: normal use (n = 70, 29.5%), intense use (n = 125, 52.7%), and problematic use (n = 42, 17.8%). In addition, one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in levels of PIU, parental monitoring, and sleep problems among youths who were classified as problematic, intense and normal users (p < .05). Conclusion and Implications: The CFA demonstrated that the PIUQ is a valid measure to assess PIU among racial/ethnic minority youth. LCA categorized 3 levels of Internet use in this sample. Findings demonstrate the significance of using LCA to explore clusters of youth on Internet use given that no valid cut-off scores for measures of PIU have been established. Moreover, almost 20% of the sample were identified as having PIU. Youth who were classified as problematic users evidenced significantly higher levels of PIU, more severe sleep problems, and lower levels of parental monitoring compared to their peers who were classified as normal and intense users. Implications to research and clinical practice will be discussed.

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Link for Podcast: https://www.insocialwork.org/episode.asp?ep=248 Podcast Interview for the University of Buffalo's School of Social Work podcast series InSocialWork. Stephanie Diez discusses the relationship between Internet gaming disorder and other addictive behaviors, and how Internet gaming is categorized within the DSM-5. National and international social policy initiatives designed to address this public health issue are described, and resources and suggestions on how social workers can more effectively identify and address this disorder are provided.

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mid the US opioid crisis that has been ongoing for nearly two decades and has reached epidemic portions, this book offers a family systems therapy (FST) approach to treatment with adolescents, who are arguably one of the more susceptible populations at risk of developing addictions. The authors provide a comprehensive definition of systems theory and FST, which have conceptual similarities and are often referred to interchangeably albeit some notable differences. Furthermore, case scenarios of evidence-based programs with an FST approach for adolescent substance use disorder (SUD) treatment provide context for direct applicability to practice. It is worth noting that all authors have clinical expertise and are affiliated with the Denver Family Therapy Center (DFTC). Principally, this book provides scientifically sound support for the application of FST as depicted by data, references, figures, measures, and …

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Playing video games, also known as computer games or electronic games, is a nearly universal behavior among adults and youth. Similar to substance-related and addictive disorders, one of the first warning signs of internet gaming disorder (IGD) is isolation from family and social events. Internet gaming disorder is also referred to as gaming or internet use disorder, gaming or internet addiction, gaming or internet dependence, pathological or problematic video gaming, and anecdotally as video game addiction. Numerous screening tools have been developed in recent years for IGD and related heterogeneous concepts. In conducting thorough screening and evaluation, social workers are trained to consider possible co-occurring disorders. This chapter discusses that there are multiple facets associated with gaming disorder that must be considered when identifying IGD. With additional training, social workers can …

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Final Submission of Completed Project: Given the considerable variability in possible research designs, authors of registered reports should provide a clear expected timeline in their initial submission. The feasibility of this timeline will be evaluated by the reviewers and action editor who will then give an explicit deadline for final submission if the pre-registered study is approved.

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nternational prevalence rates for gaming disorder range with approximately 3.05% of individuals meeting criteria. Despite the high potential for diagnosis, most clinicians in health care facilities who treat known comorbidities (e.g., anxiety or depression) do not assess clients at intake for gaming disorder. The present study aims to evaluate the Brief Internet Gaming Screen–8 (BIGS-8) as a self-assessment screening tool within a health care setting treating clients with comorbid disorders. The measure was administered to individuals in a U.S. treatment facility that specializes in treating gaming disorder and technology overuse (n = 128). The participant’s ages were 13–35. The majority (87.9%) of individual’s primary presenting behavior for which they sought treatment was due to impairment in psychosocial functioning associated with video gaming. To discover the factor structure of the BIGS-8, a parallel analysis scree plot and an exploratory factor analysis were conducted using half of the sample chosen at random (n = 64). A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the other randomly chosen half of participants (n = 64). Results indicated a one-factor solution. To explore convergent validity, the sum score of the BIGS-8 was significantly positively correlated with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale–21 (DASS-21) Depression subscale and DASS-21 Anxiety subscale sum scores. Within a components-based addiction framework aligned with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition–Text Revision criteria, the BIGS-8 yielded an acceptable model fit. The BIGS-8 poses clinical utility of identifying behavioral addiction ...

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Problematic Internet use (PIU) and problematic video gaming (PVG) are associated with various negative health outcomes and are increasingly concerning behavioral health issues among youth. While market research indicates that US Latinx use the Internet and video games more frequently than non-Latinx US youth, research on PIU and PVG among this historically understudied population is lacking. Accordingly, data on PIU, PVG, parental monitoring, sleep quality, substance use, anxiety, depression, parental attachment, acculturation, and positive future orientation were collected using validated standardized measures from three separate samples of US Latinx and non-Latinx youth

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Non-Latinx black and Latinx youth have reported more frequent Internet use compared to White youth, yet problematic Internet use among these groups of youth remains underexplored. This study aimed to validate the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-Short Form (PIUQ-SF) and investigate the characteristics of problematic Internet use among non-Latinx black and Latinx youth. Cross-sectional data were collected from a convenience sample of 235 high school students in Southeastern Florida (Mean Age = 16.1; 69.2% non-Latinx black; 27.4% Latinx). Psychometric analyses supported the reliability and construct validity of the PIUQ-SF among non-Latinx black and Latinx youth. Latent profile analyses revealed that 37.2% of non-Latinx black youth and 25.4% of Latinx youth were identified as having problematic Internet use. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that less parental monitoring was linked to …

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Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among adolescents has rapidly increased in recent years, especially among Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents. Yet, limited research exists on adolescent attitudes that may contribute to the popularity of these products. This is in part due to the lack of measures focused on assessing adolescent attitudes towards e-cigarette use. The aim of this study was to develop a measure of adolescent e-cigarette use attitudes. The sample consisted mainly of Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents. Data were collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2), 63.6% were girls, a majority (69.2%) were non-Latinx Black, and 27.1% were Latinx. The Electronic Cigarette Attitudes Survey (ECAS) is comprised of 12 items reflecting attitudes associated with e-cigarettes, which were derived from prior theoretical, quantitative, and qualitative work with e-cigarette users. To determine the

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The Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) genre consists of structural characteristics which encourage prolonged gameplay and dedication by player populations over sustained periods. Final Fantasy XIV Online has attracted a vast worldwide audience in recent years by focusing on consistent updates, story-driven gameplay, and numerous social features that encourage daily team activities. The study aimed to examine if there were any significant relationships between player personality factors, motivation for playing specific game activities, and the experience of the essential elements of psychological flow. Data was collected from an international sample (n= 1,571) of Final Fantasy XIV Online players who completed the validated measures of the Big Five Inventory, LONG Dispositional Flow Scale, and the Motivation for Playing Online Games Questionnaire to test for significant relationships between variables. The results found a significant relationship between the personality factors of escapism, extraversion, and conscientiousness and the in-game motivational factors of socializing, relationships, and customization. Results also found a highly positive significant association between overall psychological flow and the personality factors of conscientiousness, openness, extraversion, and agreeableness. Implications and applicability of results are discussed.

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Problematic video game use, internet addiction, and internet gaming addiction or disorder are interconnecting terms in the literature that have become increasingly more common in the past decade. In 2013 the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 included Internet Gaming Disorder as a condition warranting more research (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Internet gaming addiction, including what has been called pathological gaming or gaming disorder, has developed rapidly and is an emerging behavioral problem for adolescents in many countries (King, Delfabbro, Griffiths, & Gradisar, 2011). Internet Gaming Addiction has been defined as losing control to excessive gaming or internet use despite negative consequences (Grant, Potenza, Weinstein, & Gorelick, 2010). Similarly to addictions of drugs and alcohol, one of the first warning signs of internet and gaming addiction is isolation from family and social events when video gaming takes precedence over all situations in the child or adolescents life (Young 2009).

ABSTRACT

Internet Addiction (IA) and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) are emerging interconnected behavioral problems for many adolescents. Several psychosocial treatment methods have been used to treat IA/IGD but little is known on the efficacy of these approaches. A critical review of the literature was conducted that yielded 281 search results of which seven articles, that meet inclusion criteria were investigated. The review of these studies highlighted several limitations including (a) a lack of blinding techniques and randomization (b) a lack of information on sample characteristics and interventionist/clinician characteristics (c) inconsistencies in measures used to diagnosis IA/IGD and (d) a lack of other comparison groups. Adhering to improvements in future studies’ design would benefit clinicians in identifying appropriate treatment modalities to incorporate with adolescents who are diagnosed with IA/IGD.

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Previous research studies and media reports have advised that a number of adolescents frequently play video games in excess which results in problematic video gaming, however less research has been conducted on the effect of parental monitoring on frequency of video game play among US adolescent. By analyzing data from a national US survey of adolescent ages 13-17 years old (n=1638) from various ethnic and racial backgrounds this study aims to examine the effect of parental monitoring on adolescent frequency of video game play in the context of in-person video game play and online video game play. Multiple Regression analysis was conducted to examine frequency of video gaming of adolescents with friends in person, and with friends online by age, gender, race, ethnicity, and parental monitoring. When controlling for age, gender, race, and ethnicity the results found that parental monitoring had no effect on frequency of adolescent video game playing. Future research considerations should address the potential effect of frequency of adolescent video game play to develop into excessive problematic gaming and the role of parental monitoring by age, gender, race and ethnicity of adolescents over a longitudinal period.

ABSTRACT

Adolescents lack comprehensive, accurate, and adequate information regarding sexuality and safe sexual behaviors. Sexuality health education Web sites and social media pages are a promising medium to deliver sexuality health education to adolescents and perhaps increase adolescent sexual health. This article reviews diverse literature to highlight the current relevance of sexuality education Web sites, social media pages, and internet based applications with respect to their potential benefits to encourage healthy sexual development in adolescents. Although using the internet via webpages and social media sites is a primary method of communication and learning for adolescents, literature regarding the efficiency, quality, and effectiveness of these types of Web sites or applications is lacking. Methods to investigate the impact of these Web sites or internet based applications on adolescent sexual health are offered from an organizational performance measurement perspective. Developing evaluation methods for sexuality education Web sites and social media pages may provide evidence needed to advance their status as a supported outlet of information for adolescents.

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Background: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become increasingly prevalent in youths worldwide and associated with physical and psychosocial impairments. DSM-5 proposed nine criteria for the potential diagnosis of IGD and noted that further empirical research on the psychometric properties of measurement instruments for IGD are warranted. In response to the DSM-5 directive, this study evaluated the psychometric properties of Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD-20) in a sample of African American and Latino youth. The development of the 20-item IGD-20 was guided by the nine DSM-5 IGD criteria. However, the IGD-20 had previously only been examined among White youth. In addition, few studies have examined IGD among racial/ethnic minority youth who are not White or Asian. Thus, this study explored the characteristics of gaming behaviors and psychosocial factors of IGD in a sample primarily consisting of African American and Latino youths. Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face setting using Qualtrics survey software to record the responses. Of the 247 youth, 63.6% were girls, 35.6% were boys. Most of the sample (69.2%) were African American, and 27.1% were Latino/a. Youths’ IGD, problematic Internet use, substance abuse, and mental distress symptoms were assessed using standardized measures. Youth reported sociodemographic information. Confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) was used to examine the validity of the IGD-20 based on the factor structure suggested by empirical evidence. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the differences in characteristics of gaming behaviors and psychosocial correlates between youths with IGD and non-IGD. Results: The CFA indicated a reasonable fit of a 6-factor structure of the IGD-20 (i.e., salience, tolerance, withdrawal, mood alteration, negative consequences, lack of control over gaming behaviors) in this sample [χ2 (139) = 265.59, p < .001, RMSEA = .067, CFI = .94]. Approximately 2.4% of the sample met the suggested cut-off score for IGD (IGD-20 > 71) Bivariate test revealed that significantly more youths with IGD reported playing video games on the Internet than their non-IGD peers (p < .001). Moreover, youths with IGD evidenced significantly higher levels of problematic Internet use behaviors (p < .001), substance abuse problems (p < .001), and sleep problems (p < .05) compared to those who did not have IGD. IGD was significantly positively correlated with problem Internet use (r = .28, p < .001). No significant difference was observed in IGD between boys and girls (p > .05). Conclusion and Implications: The CFA demonstrated that the IGD-20 may be used as a valid measure for assessing IGD among racial/ethnic minority youth, specifically among African American and Latino/a youth. Despite the relative low prevalence rate of IGD in this sample, findings suggest that youths with IGD have significantly more severe substance abuse, sleep problems, and problematic Internet use behaviors compared to their non-IGD counterparts. Accordingly, clinicians and service providers may need to screen and assess for IGD among youths at risk for other behavioral problems. Implications to research and clinical practice will be discussed.

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Background: A rapidly growing body of literature has identified that problematic Internet use (PIU) is increasingly prevalent among youth worldwide. Youth with PIU evidence health issues, mental distress symptoms, and behavioral problems. However, very few studies have examined characteristics and psychosocial correlates of PIU among racial/ethnic minority youth. Moreover, psychometric properties of many measurements for PIU have only been tested with White and Asian youth. Thus, this study aims to: (1) examine the psychometric properties of the Problem Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ), a widely-used measure for PIU, in a sample of Black and Latino youth; and, (2) investigate the differences in characteristics and psychosocial correlates of PIU between youth with PIU and their non-PIU peers using a latent class analysis (LCA). Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face classroom setting using Qualtrics survey software to record responses. Most of the sample (69.2%) was African American, and 27.1% were Latino/a. More than half (63.6%) were female (35.6% male). Confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) was used to examine the validity of the 18-item PIUQ based on the factor structure suggested by empirical evidence. LCA was used to identify clusters of youth according to their response patterns. The item responses were treated as categorical variables (5-level). Bayesian information criteria, the Vuong-Lo-Mendell-Rubin test, and Bootstrap likelihood ratio test were used to identify the appropriate number of classes. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the levels of PIU and psychosocial correlates with the identified latent classes. Results: The CFA supported a 3-factor structure of the PIUQ (i.e., obsession with Internet use, neglecting obligations due to Internet use, and diminished control over Internet use) in this sample [χ2 (83) = 142.66, p < .001, RMSEA = .055, CFI = .96]. Three items were removed from the PIUQ due to low factor loadings (< .40). LCA was conducted using the remaining 15 items of the PIUQ, and identified a 3-classes solution as the optimal model. The classes were labelled as: normal use (n = 70, 29.5%), intense use (n = 125, 52.7%), and problematic use (n = 42, 17.8%). In addition, one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in levels of PIU, parental monitoring, and sleep problems among youths who were classified as problematic, intense and normal users (p < .05). Conclusion and Implications: The CFA demonstrated that the PIUQ is a valid measure to assess PIU among racial/ethnic minority youth. LCA categorized 3 levels of Internet use in this sample. Findings demonstrate the significance of using LCA to explore clusters of youth on Internet use given that no valid cut-off scores for measures of PIU have been established. Moreover, almost 20% of the sample were identified as having PIU. Youth who were classified as problematic users evidenced significantly higher levels of PIU, more severe sleep problems, and lower levels of parental monitoring compared to their peers who were classified as normal and intense users. Implications to research and clinical practice will be discussed.

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Link for Podcast: https://www.insocialwork.org/episode.asp?ep=248 Podcast Interview for the University of Buffalo's School of Social Work podcast series InSocialWork. Stephanie Diez discusses the relationship between Internet gaming disorder and other addictive behaviors, and how Internet gaming is categorized within the DSM-5. National and international social policy initiatives designed to address this public health issue are described, and resources and suggestions on how social workers can more effectively identify and address this disorder are provided.

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mid the US opioid crisis that has been ongoing for nearly two decades and has reached epidemic portions, this book offers a family systems therapy (FST) approach to treatment with adolescents, who are arguably one of the more susceptible populations at risk of developing addictions. The authors provide a comprehensive definition of systems theory and FST, which have conceptual similarities and are often referred to interchangeably albeit some notable differences. Furthermore, case scenarios of evidence-based programs with an FST approach for adolescent substance use disorder (SUD) treatment provide context for direct applicability to practice. It is worth noting that all authors have clinical expertise and are affiliated with the Denver Family Therapy Center (DFTC). Principally, this book provides scientifically sound support for the application of FST as depicted by data, references, figures, measures, and …

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Problematic Internet use (PIU) and problematic video gaming (PVG) are associated with various negative health outcomes and are increasingly concerning behavioral health issues among youth. While market research indicates that US Latinx use the Internet and video games more frequently than non-Latinx US youth, research on PIU and PVG among this historically understudied population is lacking. Accordingly, data on PIU, PVG, parental monitoring, sleep quality, substance use, anxiety, depression, parental attachment, acculturation, and positive future orientation were collected using validated standardized measures from three separate samples of US Latinx and non-Latinx youth

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Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among adolescents has rapidly increased in recent years, especially among Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents. Yet, limited research exists on adolescent attitudes that may contribute to the popularity of these products. This is in part due to the lack of measures focused on assessing adolescent attitudes towards e-cigarette use. The aim of this study was to develop a measure of adolescent e-cigarette use attitudes. The sample consisted mainly of Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents. Data were collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2), 63.6% were girls, a majority (69.2%) were non-Latinx Black, and 27.1% were Latinx. The Electronic Cigarette Attitudes Survey (ECAS) is comprised of 12 items reflecting attitudes associated with e-cigarettes, which were derived from prior theoretical, quantitative, and qualitative work with e-cigarette users. To determine the

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The Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) genre consists of structural characteristics which encourage prolonged gameplay and dedication by player populations over sustained periods. Final Fantasy XIV Online has attracted a vast worldwide audience in recent years by focusing on consistent updates, story-driven gameplay, and numerous social features that encourage daily team activities. The study aimed to examine if there were any significant relationships between player personality factors, motivation for playing specific game activities, and the experience of the essential elements of psychological flow. Data was collected from an international sample (n= 1,571) of Final Fantasy XIV Online players who completed the validated measures of the Big Five Inventory, LONG Dispositional Flow Scale, and the Motivation for Playing Online Games Questionnaire to test for significant relationships between variables. The results found a significant relationship between the personality factors of escapism, extraversion, and conscientiousness and the in-game motivational factors of socializing, relationships, and customization. Results also found a highly positive significant association between overall psychological flow and the personality factors of conscientiousness, openness, extraversion, and agreeableness. Implications and applicability of results are discussed.

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Problematic video game use, internet addiction, and internet gaming addiction or disorder are interconnecting terms in the literature that have become increasingly more common in the past decade. In 2013 the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 included Internet Gaming Disorder as a condition warranting more research (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Internet gaming addiction, including what has been called pathological gaming or gaming disorder, has developed rapidly and is an emerging behavioral problem for adolescents in many countries (King, Delfabbro, Griffiths, & Gradisar, 2011). Internet Gaming Addiction has been defined as losing control to excessive gaming or internet use despite negative consequences (Grant, Potenza, Weinstein, & Gorelick, 2010). Similarly to addictions of drugs and alcohol, one of the first warning signs of internet and gaming addiction is isolation from family and social events when video gaming takes precedence over all situations in the child or adolescents life (Young 2009).

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Internet Addiction (IA) and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) are emerging interconnected behavioral problems for many adolescents. Several psychosocial treatment methods have been used to treat IA/IGD but little is known on the efficacy of these approaches. A critical review of the literature was conducted that yielded 281 search results of which seven articles, that meet inclusion criteria were investigated. The review of these studies highlighted several limitations including (a) a lack of blinding techniques and randomization (b) a lack of information on sample characteristics and interventionist/clinician characteristics (c) inconsistencies in measures used to diagnosis IA/IGD and (d) a lack of other comparison groups. Adhering to improvements in future studies’ design would benefit clinicians in identifying appropriate treatment modalities to incorporate with adolescents who are diagnosed with IA/IGD.

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Previous research studies and media reports have advised that a number of adolescents frequently play video games in excess which results in problematic video gaming, however less research has been conducted on the effect of parental monitoring on frequency of video game play among US adolescent. By analyzing data from a national US survey of adolescent ages 13-17 years old (n=1638) from various ethnic and racial backgrounds this study aims to examine the effect of parental monitoring on adolescent frequency of video game play in the context of in-person video game play and online video game play. Multiple Regression analysis was conducted to examine frequency of video gaming of adolescents with friends in person, and with friends online by age, gender, race, ethnicity, and parental monitoring. When controlling for age, gender, race, and ethnicity the results found that parental monitoring had no effect on frequency of adolescent video game playing. Future research considerations should address the potential effect of frequency of adolescent video game play to develop into excessive problematic gaming and the role of parental monitoring by age, gender, race and ethnicity of adolescents over a longitudinal period.

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Background: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become increasingly prevalent in youths worldwide and associated with physical and psychosocial impairments. DSM-5 proposed nine criteria for the potential diagnosis of IGD and noted that further empirical research on the psychometric properties of measurement instruments for IGD are warranted. In response to the DSM-5 directive, this study evaluated the psychometric properties of Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD-20) in a sample of African American and Latino youth. The development of the 20-item IGD-20 was guided by the nine DSM-5 IGD criteria. However, the IGD-20 had previously only been examined among White youth. In addition, few studies have examined IGD among racial/ethnic minority youth who are not White or Asian. Thus, this study explored the characteristics of gaming behaviors and psychosocial factors of IGD in a sample primarily consisting of African American and Latino youths. Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face setting using Qualtrics survey software to record the responses. Of the 247 youth, 63.6% were girls, 35.6% were boys. Most of the sample (69.2%) were African American, and 27.1% were Latino/a. Youths’ IGD, problematic Internet use, substance abuse, and mental distress symptoms were assessed using standardized measures. Youth reported sociodemographic information. Confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) was used to examine the validity of the IGD-20 based on the factor structure suggested by empirical evidence. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the differences in characteristics of gaming behaviors and psychosocial correlates between youths with IGD and non-IGD. Results: The CFA indicated a reasonable fit of a 6-factor structure of the IGD-20 (i.e., salience, tolerance, withdrawal, mood alteration, negative consequences, lack of control over gaming behaviors) in this sample [χ2 (139) = 265.59, p < .001, RMSEA = .067, CFI = .94]. Approximately 2.4% of the sample met the suggested cut-off score for IGD (IGD-20 > 71) Bivariate test revealed that significantly more youths with IGD reported playing video games on the Internet than their non-IGD peers (p < .001). Moreover, youths with IGD evidenced significantly higher levels of problematic Internet use behaviors (p < .001), substance abuse problems (p < .001), and sleep problems (p < .05) compared to those who did not have IGD. IGD was significantly positively correlated with problem Internet use (r = .28, p < .001). No significant difference was observed in IGD between boys and girls (p > .05). Conclusion and Implications: The CFA demonstrated that the IGD-20 may be used as a valid measure for assessing IGD among racial/ethnic minority youth, specifically among African American and Latino/a youth. Despite the relative low prevalence rate of IGD in this sample, findings suggest that youths with IGD have significantly more severe substance abuse, sleep problems, and problematic Internet use behaviors compared to their non-IGD counterparts. Accordingly, clinicians and service providers may need to screen and assess for IGD among youths at risk for other behavioral problems. Implications to research and clinical practice will be discussed.

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Link for Podcast: https://www.insocialwork.org/episode.asp?ep=248 Podcast Interview for the University of Buffalo's School of Social Work podcast series InSocialWork. Stephanie Diez discusses the relationship between Internet gaming disorder and other addictive behaviors, and how Internet gaming is categorized within the DSM-5. National and international social policy initiatives designed to address this public health issue are described, and resources and suggestions on how social workers can more effectively identify and address this disorder are provided.

ABSTRACT

For many, video gaming can become a maladaptive coping mechanism in response to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), toxic stress, and/or trauma. These experiences can occur both within the context of video gaming and in the physical world, yet the psychological & physical impacts go well beyond the virtual world. This presentation will provide participants with ways to identify gamer specific trauma and its impact on the continuum of gaming disorder as well as review the proper application of using a trauma informed approach for treatment and interventions. In this presentation, we will review evidenced based treatments that can be utilized to treat gaming disorder This presentation will recognize gamer-specific trauma and its impact on a gaming disorder and will review the proper application of using a trauma informed approach for treatment and interventions.

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Background: Adverse life experiences, such as having a parent or caregiver misuse/abuse drug/alcohol or becoming a caregiver for a family member, have been found to be associated with substance misuse among Latinx youth and adults (Madruga et al., 2011). In addition, early adverse life experiences have been identified as a risk factor for problematic gaming (Bussone et al., 2020; Grajewski & Dragen, 2020). Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become increasingly prevalent in youths worldwide and is associated with various psychosocial impairments. In addition, limited literature has investigated these variables among Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents: 18.1% (Latinx) and 13.1% (non-Latinx Black) (CITE?), and have found that Latinx and non-Latinx Black youth engage in more frequent use of video gaming when compared to their White peers (CITE?). This study aims to provide an understanding of how adverse life experiences, substance misuse, and IGD impact youth in a sample of Latinx and non-Latinx black and youths. Methods: The sample consisted mainly of Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents. Data were collected from 247 youth (M age=16.0, SD=1.2), 63.6% were female, a majority (69.2%) were non-Latinx Black, and 27.1% were Latinx. Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face setting using Qualtrics survey software to record the responses. Of the 247 youth, 63.6% were girls, 35.6% were boys. Most of the sample (69.2%) were Non-Latinx black, and 27.1% were Latinx. Youths’ IGD, adverse life events, substance misuse, and were assessed using standardized measures. Data regarding adverse life experiences, substance misuse and IGD was measured using the Adverse Life Events Scale, the DSM-5 Cross Cutting Assessment, the Internet Gaming Disorder-20 and the Problematic Internet Use Scale. A regression analysis was carried out to investigate whether IGD could significantly predict youth’s adverse life experiences and substance misuse. Results: Increasing hours of time spent gaming was a significant predictor of misusing tobacco products and/or medications like painkiller, stimulants, sedatives, cocaine, or hallucinogens, F (3, 107) = 5.7, p < .05. The results of the regression indicated that the model explained 10% of the variance and that a higher IGD score was a significant predictor of the youth having a family member with a mental/emotional problem, F (17, 214) = 1.3, p < .05. In addition, the results of a separate regression indicated that the model explained 11% of the variance and that higher problematic internet use scores was a significant predictor of the youth having a family member with a drug/alcohol problem F (17, 214) = 1.5, p = .01. Discussion: Both substance misuse and problematic gaming are emotional coping strategies for dealing with adverse life experiences, and while they are not ideal coping mechanisms, they present a way to relieve present stress (Blasi et al., 2019; Iaocovides and Mekler, 2019), and are even called ‘self-medicating’ behaviors (Garland et al., 2013). By understanding the association between early adverse life experiences and problematic behaviors, there is opportunity for social workers to heal the trauma causing the issues.

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Playing video games, also known as computer games or electronic games, is a nearly universal behavior among adults and youth. Similar to substance-related and addictive disorders, one of the first warning signs of internet gaming disorder (IGD) is isolation from family and social events. Internet gaming disorder is also referred to as gaming or internet use disorder, gaming or internet addiction, gaming or internet dependence, pathological or problematic video gaming, and anecdotally as video game addiction. Numerous screening tools have been developed in recent years for IGD and related heterogeneous concepts. In conducting thorough screening and evaluation, social workers are trained to consider possible co-occurring disorders. This chapter discusses that there are multiple facets associated with gaming disorder that must be considered when identifying IGD. With additional training, social workers can …

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nternational prevalence rates for gaming disorder range with approximately 3.05% of individuals meeting criteria. Despite the high potential for diagnosis, most clinicians in health care facilities who treat known comorbidities (e.g., anxiety or depression) do not assess clients at intake for gaming disorder. The present study aims to evaluate the Brief Internet Gaming Screen–8 (BIGS-8) as a self-assessment screening tool within a health care setting treating clients with comorbid disorders. The measure was administered to individuals in a U.S. treatment facility that specializes in treating gaming disorder and technology overuse (n = 128). The participant’s ages were 13–35. The majority (87.9%) of individual’s primary presenting behavior for which they sought treatment was due to impairment in psychosocial functioning associated with video gaming. To discover the factor structure of the BIGS-8, a parallel analysis scree plot and an exploratory factor analysis were conducted using half of the sample chosen at random (n = 64). A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the other randomly chosen half of participants (n = 64). Results indicated a one-factor solution. To explore convergent validity, the sum score of the BIGS-8 was significantly positively correlated with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale–21 (DASS-21) Depression subscale and DASS-21 Anxiety subscale sum scores. Within a components-based addiction framework aligned with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition–Text Revision criteria, the BIGS-8 yielded an acceptable model fit. The BIGS-8 poses clinical utility of identifying behavioral addiction ...

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Problematic Internet use (PIU) and problematic video gaming (PVG) are associated with various negative health outcomes and are increasingly concerning behavioral health issues among youth. While market research indicates that US Latinx use the Internet and video games more frequently than non-Latinx US youth, research on PIU and PVG among this historically understudied population is lacking. Accordingly, data on PIU, PVG, parental monitoring, sleep quality, substance use, anxiety, depression, parental attachment, acculturation, and positive future orientation were collected using validated standardized measures from three separate samples of US Latinx and non-Latinx youth

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Background: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become increasingly prevalent in youths worldwide and associated with physical and psychosocial impairments. DSM-5 proposed nine criteria for the potential diagnosis of IGD and noted that further empirical research on the psychometric properties of measurement instruments for IGD are warranted. In response to the DSM-5 directive, this study evaluated the psychometric properties of Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD-20) in a sample of African American and Latino youth. The development of the 20-item IGD-20 was guided by the nine DSM-5 IGD criteria. However, the IGD-20 had previously only been examined among White youth. In addition, few studies have examined IGD among racial/ethnic minority youth who are not White or Asian. Thus, this study explored the characteristics of gaming behaviors and psychosocial factors of IGD in a sample primarily consisting of African American and Latino youths. Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face setting using Qualtrics survey software to record the responses. Of the 247 youth, 63.6% were girls, 35.6% were boys. Most of the sample (69.2%) were African American, and 27.1% were Latino/a. Youths’ IGD, problematic Internet use, substance abuse, and mental distress symptoms were assessed using standardized measures. Youth reported sociodemographic information. Confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) was used to examine the validity of the IGD-20 based on the factor structure suggested by empirical evidence. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the differences in characteristics of gaming behaviors and psychosocial correlates between youths with IGD and non-IGD. Results: The CFA indicated a reasonable fit of a 6-factor structure of the IGD-20 (i.e., salience, tolerance, withdrawal, mood alteration, negative consequences, lack of control over gaming behaviors) in this sample [χ2 (139) = 265.59, p < .001, RMSEA = .067, CFI = .94]. Approximately 2.4% of the sample met the suggested cut-off score for IGD (IGD-20 > 71) Bivariate test revealed that significantly more youths with IGD reported playing video games on the Internet than their non-IGD peers (p < .001). Moreover, youths with IGD evidenced significantly higher levels of problematic Internet use behaviors (p < .001), substance abuse problems (p < .001), and sleep problems (p < .05) compared to those who did not have IGD. IGD was significantly positively correlated with problem Internet use (r = .28, p < .001). No significant difference was observed in IGD between boys and girls (p > .05). Conclusion and Implications: The CFA demonstrated that the IGD-20 may be used as a valid measure for assessing IGD among racial/ethnic minority youth, specifically among African American and Latino/a youth. Despite the relative low prevalence rate of IGD in this sample, findings suggest that youths with IGD have significantly more severe substance abuse, sleep problems, and problematic Internet use behaviors compared to their non-IGD counterparts. Accordingly, clinicians and service providers may need to screen and assess for IGD among youths at risk for other behavioral problems. Implications to research and clinical practice will be discussed.

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Background: A rapidly growing body of literature has identified that problematic Internet use (PIU) is increasingly prevalent among youth worldwide. Youth with PIU evidence health issues, mental distress symptoms, and behavioral problems. However, very few studies have examined characteristics and psychosocial correlates of PIU among racial/ethnic minority youth. Moreover, psychometric properties of many measurements for PIU have only been tested with White and Asian youth. Thus, this study aims to: (1) examine the psychometric properties of the Problem Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ), a widely-used measure for PIU, in a sample of Black and Latino youth; and, (2) investigate the differences in characteristics and psychosocial correlates of PIU between youth with PIU and their non-PIU peers using a latent class analysis (LCA). Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face classroom setting using Qualtrics survey software to record responses. Most of the sample (69.2%) was African American, and 27.1% were Latino/a. More than half (63.6%) were female (35.6% male). Confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) was used to examine the validity of the 18-item PIUQ based on the factor structure suggested by empirical evidence. LCA was used to identify clusters of youth according to their response patterns. The item responses were treated as categorical variables (5-level). Bayesian information criteria, the Vuong-Lo-Mendell-Rubin test, and Bootstrap likelihood ratio test were used to identify the appropriate number of classes. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the levels of PIU and psychosocial correlates with the identified latent classes. Results: The CFA supported a 3-factor structure of the PIUQ (i.e., obsession with Internet use, neglecting obligations due to Internet use, and diminished control over Internet use) in this sample [χ2 (83) = 142.66, p < .001, RMSEA = .055, CFI = .96]. Three items were removed from the PIUQ due to low factor loadings (< .40). LCA was conducted using the remaining 15 items of the PIUQ, and identified a 3-classes solution as the optimal model. The classes were labelled as: normal use (n = 70, 29.5%), intense use (n = 125, 52.7%), and problematic use (n = 42, 17.8%). In addition, one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in levels of PIU, parental monitoring, and sleep problems among youths who were classified as problematic, intense and normal users (p < .05). Conclusion and Implications: The CFA demonstrated that the PIUQ is a valid measure to assess PIU among racial/ethnic minority youth. LCA categorized 3 levels of Internet use in this sample. Findings demonstrate the significance of using LCA to explore clusters of youth on Internet use given that no valid cut-off scores for measures of PIU have been established. Moreover, almost 20% of the sample were identified as having PIU. Youth who were classified as problematic users evidenced significantly higher levels of PIU, more severe sleep problems, and lower levels of parental monitoring compared to their peers who were classified as normal and intense users. Implications to research and clinical practice will be discussed.

ABSRTACT

Background: Adverse life experiences, such as having a parent or caregiver misuse/abuse drug/alcohol or becoming a caregiver for a family member, have been found to be associated with substance misuse among Latinx youth and adults (Madruga et al., 2011). In addition, early adverse life experiences have been identified as a risk factor for problematic gaming (Bussone et al., 2020; Grajewski & Dragen, 2020). Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become increasingly prevalent in youths worldwide and is associated with various psychosocial impairments. In addition, limited literature has investigated these variables among Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents: 18.1% (Latinx) and 13.1% (non-Latinx Black) (CITE?), and have found that Latinx and non-Latinx Black youth engage in more frequent use of video gaming when compared to their White peers (CITE?). This study aims to provide an understanding of how adverse life experiences, substance misuse, and IGD impact youth in a sample of Latinx and non-Latinx black and youths. Methods: The sample consisted mainly of Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents. Data were collected from 247 youth (M age=16.0, SD=1.2), 63.6% were female, a majority (69.2%) were non-Latinx Black, and 27.1% were Latinx. Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face setting using Qualtrics survey software to record the responses. Of the 247 youth, 63.6% were girls, 35.6% were boys. Most of the sample (69.2%) were Non-Latinx black, and 27.1% were Latinx. Youths’ IGD, adverse life events, substance misuse, and were assessed using standardized measures. Data regarding adverse life experiences, substance misuse and IGD was measured using the Adverse Life Events Scale, the DSM-5 Cross Cutting Assessment, the Internet Gaming Disorder-20 and the Problematic Internet Use Scale. A regression analysis was carried out to investigate whether IGD could significantly predict youth’s adverse life experiences and substance misuse. Results: Increasing hours of time spent gaming was a significant predictor of misusing tobacco products and/or medications like painkiller, stimulants, sedatives, cocaine, or hallucinogens, F (3, 107) = 5.7, p < .05. The results of the regression indicated that the model explained 10% of the variance and that a higher IGD score was a significant predictor of the youth having a family member with a mental/emotional problem, F (17, 214) = 1.3, p < .05. In addition, the results of a separate regression indicated that the model explained 11% of the variance and that higher problematic internet use scores was a significant predictor of the youth having a family member with a drug/alcohol problem F (17, 214) = 1.5, p = .01. Discussion: Both substance misuse and problematic gaming are emotional coping strategies for dealing with adverse life experiences, and while they are not ideal coping mechanisms, they present a way to relieve present stress (Blasi et al., 2019; Iaocovides and Mekler, 2019), and are even called ‘self-medicating’ behaviors (Garland et al., 2013). By understanding the association between early adverse life experiences and problematic behaviors, there is opportunity for social workers to heal the trauma causing the issues.

ABSTRACT

Problematic Internet use (PIU) and problematic video gaming (PVG) are associated with various negative health outcomes and are increasingly concerning behavioral health issues among youth. While market research indicates that US Latinx use the Internet and video games more frequently than non-Latinx US youth, research on PIU and PVG among this historically understudied population is lacking. Accordingly, data on PIU, PVG, parental monitoring, sleep quality, substance use, anxiety, depression, parental attachment, acculturation, and positive future orientation were collected using validated standardized measures from three separate samples of US Latinx and non-Latinx youth

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Sexual trauma is a national public health concern due to the alarming rates at which it occurs and decades of research supporting its long‐term deleterious effects on health outcomes. We assessed the impact of gender norms and sexual trauma on power within sexual relationships among Latina immigrant farmworkers. At baseline, participants (N  = 175) completed a survey examining demographic information, sexual trauma history, and gender norms; a follow‐up was administered 6 months later. Past sexual trauma was associated with less power in sexual relationships, r  = −.25, p < .001, as was endorsement of traditional Latina gender norms (i.e., marianismo): sexual relationship control, r  = −.38, p < .001; sexual decision‐making dominance, r  = −.21, p  = .005. In contrast, egalitarian gender norm endorsement was associated with higher levels of sexual relationship control, r  = .37, p < .001, and sexual …

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Religious institutions can be a source of support for recent Latino immigrants struggling to adjust to a new culture. For undocumented immigrants, who are often marginalized from other formal institutions, they may symbolize a place of refuge and hope through supportive social networks that mitigate common challenges such as social isolation and other forms of immigration stress. This cross-sectional study examined the impact of religious social capital and social support on immigration stress among documented and undocumented recent Latino immigrants (N = 408). Religious social capital was associated with higher levels of social support, while social support was protective against immigration stress. Social support mediated associations between religious social capital and immigration stress, but only among undocumented immigrants. Findings suggest religious social capital may be a particularly useful resource for undocumented immigrants, aiding in the provision of social support and in decreasing levels of immigration stress. Future research directions and implications for culturally tailored service delivery are presented.

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Non-Latinx black and Latinx youth have reported more frequent Internet use compared to White youth, yet problematic Internet use among these groups of youth remains underexplored. This study aimed to validate the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-Short Form (PIUQ-SF) and investigate the characteristics of problematic Internet use among non-Latinx black and Latinx youth. Cross-sectional data were collected from a convenience sample of 235 high school students in Southeastern Florida (Mean Age = 16.1; 69.2% non-Latinx black; 27.4% Latinx). Psychometric analyses supported the reliability and construct validity of the PIUQ-SF among non-Latinx black and Latinx youth. Latent profile analyses revealed that 37.2% of non-Latinx black youth and 25.4% of Latinx youth were identified as having problematic Internet use. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that less parental monitoring was linked to …

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Throughout the past decade, HIV rates in Florida—particularly South Florida, where many Latina seasonal farmworkers reside and work—have ranked among the highest in the nation. In this brief report, we delineate important lessons learned and preliminary findings from the implementation of the HIV prevention intervention Progreso en Salud (Progress in Health). Among the 114 Latina seasonal farmworker participants, there were significant increases from baseline to 6-month follow-up in the percentages of overall condom use, HIV testing, HIV/AIDS-related communications with friends, HIV knowledge, condom use self-efficacy, and correct use of condoms. Lessons learned from this study can be used to inform future HIV intervention strategies to improve the adoption and maintenance of HIV risk reduction behaviors among high-risk Latina seasonal workers and other high-risk underserved populations. Future research is needed to support our findings.

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Adolescents lack comprehensive, accurate, and adequate information regarding sexuality and safe sexual behaviors. Sexuality health education Web sites and social media pages are a promising medium to deliver sexuality health education to adolescents and perhaps increase adolescent sexual health. This article reviews diverse literature to highlight the current relevance of sexuality education Web sites, social media pages, and internet based applications with respect to their potential benefits to encourage healthy sexual development in adolescents. Although using the internet via webpages and social media sites is a primary method of communication and learning for adolescents, literature regarding the efficiency, quality, and effectiveness of these types of Web sites or applications is lacking. Methods to investigate the impact of these Web sites or internet based applications on adolescent sexual health are offered from an organizational performance measurement perspective. Developing evaluation methods for sexuality education Web sites and social media pages may provide evidence needed to advance their status as a supported outlet of information for adolescents.

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Background: A rapidly growing body of literature has identified that problematic Internet use (PIU) is increasingly prevalent among youth worldwide. Youth with PIU evidence health issues, mental distress symptoms, and behavioral problems. However, very few studies have examined characteristics and psychosocial correlates of PIU among racial/ethnic minority youth. Moreover, psychometric properties of many measurements for PIU have only been tested with White and Asian youth. Thus, this study aims to: (1) examine the psychometric properties of the Problem Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ), a widely-used measure for PIU, in a sample of Black and Latino youth; and, (2) investigate the differences in characteristics and psychosocial correlates of PIU between youth with PIU and their non-PIU peers using a latent class analysis (LCA). Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face classroom setting using Qualtrics survey software to record responses. Most of the sample (69.2%) was African American, and 27.1% were Latino/a. More than half (63.6%) were female (35.6% male). Confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) was used to examine the validity of the 18-item PIUQ based on the factor structure suggested by empirical evidence. LCA was used to identify clusters of youth according to their response patterns. The item responses were treated as categorical variables (5-level). Bayesian information criteria, the Vuong-Lo-Mendell-Rubin test, and Bootstrap likelihood ratio test were used to identify the appropriate number of classes. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the levels of PIU and psychosocial correlates with the identified latent classes. Results: The CFA supported a 3-factor structure of the PIUQ (i.e., obsession with Internet use, neglecting obligations due to Internet use, and diminished control over Internet use) in this sample [χ2 (83) = 142.66, p < .001, RMSEA = .055, CFI = .96]. Three items were removed from the PIUQ due to low factor loadings (< .40). LCA was conducted using the remaining 15 items of the PIUQ, and identified a 3-classes solution as the optimal model. The classes were labelled as: normal use (n = 70, 29.5%), intense use (n = 125, 52.7%), and problematic use (n = 42, 17.8%). In addition, one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in levels of PIU, parental monitoring, and sleep problems among youths who were classified as problematic, intense and normal users (p < .05). Conclusion and Implications: The CFA demonstrated that the PIUQ is a valid measure to assess PIU among racial/ethnic minority youth. LCA categorized 3 levels of Internet use in this sample. Findings demonstrate the significance of using LCA to explore clusters of youth on Internet use given that no valid cut-off scores for measures of PIU have been established. Moreover, almost 20% of the sample were identified as having PIU. Youth who were classified as problematic users evidenced significantly higher levels of PIU, more severe sleep problems, and lower levels of parental monitoring compared to their peers who were classified as normal and intense users. Implications to research and clinical practice will be discussed.

ABSTRACT

For many, video gaming can become a maladaptive coping mechanism in response to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), toxic stress, and/or trauma. These experiences can occur both within the context of video gaming and in the physical world, yet the psychological & physical impacts go well beyond the virtual world. This presentation will provide participants with ways to identify gamer specific trauma and its impact on the continuum of gaming disorder as well as review the proper application of using a trauma informed approach for treatment and interventions. In this presentation, we will review evidenced based treatments that can be utilized to treat gaming disorder This presentation will recognize gamer-specific trauma and its impact on a gaming disorder and will review the proper application of using a trauma informed approach for treatment and interventions.

ABSTRACT

The present study investigated how teachers’ cyberbullying experiences are associated with their mental health. Data of 372 school teachers in Germany were assessed via online surveys. Overall, 91.1% of the teachers reported that cyberbullying is an issue at their school, and 69.9% wanted more training in how to manage cyberbullying. In a moderated mediation analysis, the positive association between cyberbullying experience and stress symptoms was mediated negatively by positive mental health (PMH), i.e., the higher the cyberbullying experience, the lower the PMH and the higher the stress symptoms. Teachers’ cybercompetence in managing cyberbullying moderated the link between PMH and stress symptoms. Specifically, the higher the cybercompetence, the weaker their association. Therefore, among persons with high cybercompetence the decrease of PMH caused by cyberbullying experience …

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ABSTRACT

Sexual trauma is a national public health concern due to the alarming rates at which it occurs and decades of research supporting its long‐term deleterious effects on health outcomes. We assessed the impact of gender norms and sexual trauma on power within sexual relationships among Latina immigrant farmworkers. At baseline, participants (N  = 175) completed a survey examining demographic information, sexual trauma history, and gender norms; a follow‐up was administered 6 months later. Past sexual trauma was associated with less power in sexual relationships, r  = −.25, p < .001, as was endorsement of traditional Latina gender norms (i.e., marianismo): sexual relationship control, r  = −.38, p < .001; sexual decision‐making dominance, r  = −.21, p  = .005. In contrast, egalitarian gender norm endorsement was associated with higher levels of sexual relationship control, r  = .37, p < .001, and sexual …

ABSTRACT

Religious institutions can be a source of support for recent Latino immigrants struggling to adjust to a new culture. For undocumented immigrants, who are often marginalized from other formal institutions, they may symbolize a place of refuge and hope through supportive social networks that mitigate common challenges such as social isolation and other forms of immigration stress. This cross-sectional study examined the impact of religious social capital and social support on immigration stress among documented and undocumented recent Latino immigrants (N = 408). Religious social capital was associated with higher levels of social support, while social support was protective against immigration stress. Social support mediated associations between religious social capital and immigration stress, but only among undocumented immigrants. Findings suggest religious social capital may be a particularly useful resource for undocumented immigrants, aiding in the provision of social support and in decreasing levels of immigration stress. Future research directions and implications for culturally tailored service delivery are presented.

ABSTRACT

Previous research studies and media reports have advised that a number of adolescents frequently play video games in excess which results in problematic video gaming, however less research has been conducted on the effect of parental monitoring on frequency of video game play among US adolescent. By analyzing data from a national US survey of adolescent ages 13-17 years old (n=1638) from various ethnic and racial backgrounds this study aims to examine the effect of parental monitoring on adolescent frequency of video game play in the context of in-person video game play and online video game play. Multiple Regression analysis was conducted to examine frequency of video gaming of adolescents with friends in person, and with friends online by age, gender, race, ethnicity, and parental monitoring. When controlling for age, gender, race, and ethnicity the results found that parental monitoring had no effect on frequency of adolescent video game playing. Future research considerations should address the potential effect of frequency of adolescent video game play to develop into excessive problematic gaming and the role of parental monitoring by age, gender, race and ethnicity of adolescents over a longitudinal period.

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

mid the US opioid crisis that has been ongoing for nearly two decades and has reached epidemic portions, this book offers a family systems therapy (FST) approach to treatment with adolescents, who are arguably one of the more susceptible populations at risk of developing addictions. The authors provide a comprehensive definition of systems theory and FST, which have conceptual similarities and are often referred to interchangeably albeit some notable differences. Furthermore, case scenarios of evidence-based programs with an FST approach for adolescent substance use disorder (SUD) treatment provide context for direct applicability to practice. It is worth noting that all authors have clinical expertise and are affiliated with the Denver Family Therapy Center (DFTC). Principally, this book provides scientifically sound support for the application of FST as depicted by data, references, figures, measures, and …

ABSTRACT

mid the US opioid crisis that has been ongoing for nearly two decades and has reached epidemic portions, this book offers a family systems therapy (FST) approach to treatment with adolescents, who are arguably one of the more susceptible populations at risk of developing addictions. The authors provide a comprehensive definition of systems theory and FST, which have conceptual similarities and are often referred to interchangeably albeit some notable differences. Furthermore, case scenarios of evidence-based programs with an FST approach for adolescent substance use disorder (SUD) treatment provide context for direct applicability to practice. It is worth noting that all authors have clinical expertise and are affiliated with the Denver Family Therapy Center (DFTC). Principally, this book provides scientifically sound support for the application of FST as depicted by data, references, figures, measures, and …

ABSRTACT

Background: Adverse life experiences, such as having a parent or caregiver misuse/abuse drug/alcohol or becoming a caregiver for a family member, have been found to be associated with substance misuse among Latinx youth and adults (Madruga et al., 2011). In addition, early adverse life experiences have been identified as a risk factor for problematic gaming (Bussone et al., 2020; Grajewski & Dragen, 2020). Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become increasingly prevalent in youths worldwide and is associated with various psychosocial impairments. In addition, limited literature has investigated these variables among Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents: 18.1% (Latinx) and 13.1% (non-Latinx Black) (CITE?), and have found that Latinx and non-Latinx Black youth engage in more frequent use of video gaming when compared to their White peers (CITE?). This study aims to provide an understanding of how adverse life experiences, substance misuse, and IGD impact youth in a sample of Latinx and non-Latinx black and youths. Methods: The sample consisted mainly of Latinx and non-Latinx Black adolescents. Data were collected from 247 youth (M age=16.0, SD=1.2), 63.6% were female, a majority (69.2%) were non-Latinx Black, and 27.1% were Latinx. Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face setting using Qualtrics survey software to record the responses. Of the 247 youth, 63.6% were girls, 35.6% were boys. Most of the sample (69.2%) were Non-Latinx black, and 27.1% were Latinx. Youths’ IGD, adverse life events, substance misuse, and were assessed using standardized measures. Data regarding adverse life experiences, substance misuse and IGD was measured using the Adverse Life Events Scale, the DSM-5 Cross Cutting Assessment, the Internet Gaming Disorder-20 and the Problematic Internet Use Scale. A regression analysis was carried out to investigate whether IGD could significantly predict youth’s adverse life experiences and substance misuse. Results: Increasing hours of time spent gaming was a significant predictor of misusing tobacco products and/or medications like painkiller, stimulants, sedatives, cocaine, or hallucinogens, F (3, 107) = 5.7, p < .05. The results of the regression indicated that the model explained 10% of the variance and that a higher IGD score was a significant predictor of the youth having a family member with a mental/emotional problem, F (17, 214) = 1.3, p < .05. In addition, the results of a separate regression indicated that the model explained 11% of the variance and that higher problematic internet use scores was a significant predictor of the youth having a family member with a drug/alcohol problem F (17, 214) = 1.5, p = .01. Discussion: Both substance misuse and problematic gaming are emotional coping strategies for dealing with adverse life experiences, and while they are not ideal coping mechanisms, they present a way to relieve present stress (Blasi et al., 2019; Iaocovides and Mekler, 2019), and are even called ‘self-medicating’ behaviors (Garland et al., 2013). By understanding the association between early adverse life experiences and problematic behaviors, there is opportunity for social workers to heal the trauma causing the issues.