A criticism of current diagnostic approaches to gaming disorder is that they fail to take into account that high
and repeated engagement is not problematic per se, nor is it necessarily associated with adverse consequences.
To tackle this controversy, we used Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to test, in regular gamers (N=268),
whether high (but healthy) engagement can be distinguished from problematic engagement by using the
Addiction-Engagement Questionnaire (Charlton & Danforth, 2007). We then tested whether differential relationships
exist between the engagement and addiction constructs, DSM-5 criteria for Internet gaming disorder
(IGD), and psychological factors linked to gaming use and misuse (self-reported impulsivity, motives to play, and
depression). Results indicated that a model holding engagement and addiction as two distinct, but related,
constructs fits the data well. Second, we showed that although both constructs are linked to the number of IGD
criteria endorsed, the relationship is more pronounced for the addiction construct. Third, a differential pattern of
correlations was observed with the other study variables, further supporting the need to distinguish the two
constructs. Our study emphasizes that research is needed to refine the diagnostic approach to gaming disorder to
avoid conflating healthy passion with pathological behavior.