Subtypes of Adolescent Video Gamers: a Latent Class Analysis

Objective Excessive video gaming may represent a behavioural addiction among adolescents. The objective of this study was to identify and describe the taxonomy of problem gamers based on responses to the Problem Video Game Playing (PVP) scale. Methods Data based on 3338 Ontario high schoolers sampled from 103 schools (aged 11–20; male = 51 %) who completed self-administered questionnaires. Following latent class extraction, a regression assessed the association between the derived classes and the covariates sex and socioeconomic status. We also assessed self-rated physical and mental health as auxiliary variables in the model to evaluate the predictive validity of the extracted classes. Results A 4-class model provided the best statistical fit to the nine PVP symptoms. The Severe PVP, High PVP, Low PVP and Normative classes comprised 1.9 %, 12.2 %, 36.0 % and 50.0 % of the sample, respectively. The Severe PVP class was characterized by having the highest probabilities of endorsing the PVP items. The High PVP class was differentiated from the Severe PVP class by having lower probabilities of endorsing the disregard for consequences and the lies and deception items and moderate probabilities of endorsing withdrawal and escape items. Significantly poorer physical and mental health outcomes differentiated the Severe PVP class from the remaining classes. Conclusions Adolescent problem video gamers are not homogeneous. They experience differing patterns of symptoms requiring attention of prevention programmers and clinicians.