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Prevalence of Internet Addiction and Gaming Disorders in Southeast Asia: A Meta-Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Doris X. Y. Chia

    (National Addictions Management Service, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore 539747, Singapore)

  • Charis W. L. Ng

    (National Addictions Management Service, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore 539747, Singapore)

  • Gomathinayagam Kandasami

    (National Addictions Management Service, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore 539747, Singapore)

  • Mavis Y. L. Seow

    (Department of Psychology, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore 539747, Singapore
    Department of Psychology, James Cook University, Singapore 387380, Singapore)

  • Carol C. Choo

    (Te Wānanga o Ngā Kete, Department of Arts, Law, Psychology & Social Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand)

  • Peter K. H. Chew

    (College of Healthcare Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia)

  • Cheng Lee

    (National Addictions Management Service, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore 539747, Singapore)

  • Melvyn W. B. Zhang

    (National Addictions Management Service, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore 539747, Singapore
    Family Medicine & Primary Care, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore 308232, Singapore)

Abstract

This meta-analytic review aimed to examine the pooled prevalence rates of Internet addiction and gaming disorders in Southeast Asia. Several databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Central were searched and a total of 24 studies were included in this study. The selection of studies was conducted in accordance to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two meta-analyses were conducted to examine data on Internet addiction and gaming disorders separately. A random-effects model was employed to derive the pooled prevalence rate. Mixed-effects meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to examine the moderators of the between-study heterogeneity. Publication bias was tested using the Egger’s regression test and funnel plot. Only seven out of the 11 Southeast Asian countries were represented in the literature. All except for two of the included studies were cross-sectional in nature. The findings revealed a pooled prevalence rate of 20.0% (95% confidence interval: 14.5%–27.0%) and 10.1% (95% confidence interval: 7.3%–13.8%) for Internet addiction and gaming disorders respectively. Mean age and study population were significant moderators of the between-study heterogeneity in the prevalence rates of gaming disorders such that samples involving older participants showed higher prevalence rate than those involving younger individuals. Country of study was found to be significant moderator of the between-heterogeneity for both Internet addiction and gaming disorders, however the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the small and unbalanced sample sizes. There was no significant publication bias. Such epidemiology research should be extended to the Southeast Asian countries that have not been studied or are under-studied. Given that the prevalence rates appear to be higher in Southeast Asia than in other world regions, future research should also explore the factors behind these inter-regional differences. Further longitudinal studies should also be conducted to examine the trajectories of such disorders.

Suggested Citation

  • Doris X. Y. Chia & Charis W. L. Ng & Gomathinayagam Kandasami & Mavis Y. L. Seow & Carol C. Choo & Peter K. H. Chew & Cheng Lee & Melvyn W. B. Zhang, 2020. "Prevalence of Internet Addiction and Gaming Disorders in Southeast Asia: A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:7:p:2582-:d:343495
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sergey Tereshchenko & Edward Kasparov & Marina Smolnikova & Margarita Shubina & Nina Gorbacheva & Olga Moskalenko, 2021. "Internet Addiction and Sleep Problems among Russian Adolescents: A Field School-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Nurazah Ismail & Ahmad Izzat Tajjudin & Hafiz Jaafar & Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar & Azlin Baharudin & Normala Ibrahim, 2021. "The Relationship between Internet Addiction, Internet Gaming and Anxiety among Medical Students in a Malaysian Public University during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Suresh Kumar & Sophie Jackson & Dominic Petronzi, 2023. "A preliminary study into internet related addictions among adults with dyslexia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(2), pages 1-13, February.
    4. Jorge Oceja & Víctor J. Villanueva-Blasco & Andrea Vázquez-Martínez & Verónica Villanueva-Silvestre & Susana Al-Halabí, 2023. "Keep Playing or Restart? Questions about the Evaluation of Video Game Addiction from a Systematic Review in the Context of COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-13, January.
    5. Wei Zeng & Hua Wei & Meiting Liu, 2023. "Need for Distinctiveness Leads to Pathological Internet Use? The Perspective of Cognitive Behavioral Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-13, January.
    6. Yu-Ting Huang & Po-Ching Huang & Wen-Li Hou & Musheer A. Aljaberi & Wan Ying Gan & Serene En Hui Tung & Ji-Kang Chen & I-Hua Chen & Yan-Li Siaw & Shih-Wei Huang & Jung-Sheng Chen & Kuo-Hsin Lee & Rwei, 2025. "Using Moderated Mediation Modelling and the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution Model to Explore Relationships between Psychological Distress, Specific Addictive Behaviors, and Quality of Life across Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Chin," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 20(4), pages 1759-1782, August.
    7. Akram Hernández-Vásquez & Rodrigo Vargas-Fernández & Fabriccio J. Visconti-Lopez & Daniel Comandé & Guido Bendezu-Quispe, 2022. "Prevalence and Factors Associated with Gaming Disorder in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-14, August.

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