Background: Gaming disorder (GD) has been shown to co-occur with
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), yet few studies to date
have investigated their longitudinal associations.
Method: The sample included 5,067 young Swiss men (mean age was 20 years
at wave 1 and 25 years at wave 3). Measures were the Game Addiction
Scale and the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (6-item screener).
Longitudinal associations were tested using autoregressive cross-lagged
models for binary measures of GD and ADHD, as well as continuous
measures for GD score and ADHD subscales of inattention and
hyperactivity.
Results: ADHD at age 20 increased the risk for GD at age 25 (probit =
0.066 [0.023, 0.109]; p = 0.003). GD at age 20 also increased the risk
for ADHD at wave 3 (probit = 0.058 [0.013, 0.102]; p = 0.011). Only the
ADHD inattention subscale showed a bidirectional longitudinal
relationship with the GD score (standardized Beta from inattention at
age 20 to GD score at age 25: 0.090 [0.056, 0.124]; p < 0.001; from GD
score at age 20 to inattention at age 25: 0.044 [0.016, 0.071]; p =
0.002), whereas associations between the hyperactivity subscale and GD
were not significant.
Discussion: GD had bidirectional longitudinal associations with ADHD, in
that ADHD increased the risk for GD and GD increased the risk for ADHD,
and they may reinforce each other. These associations may be linked more
to the inattention ADHD component than to the hyperactivity ADHD
component. Individuals with ADHD or GD should be screened for the other
disorder, and preventive measures for GD should be evaluated in
individuals with ADHD.