Pitanupong Jarurin, Sukhabote Jaruphan, Sathaporn Katti
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
PLoS One. 2025 Jul 11;20(7):e0327820. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0327820. eCollection 2025.
There is evidence that Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is strongly related to depression. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of IGD among medical students, as well as to examine the association between IGD and depression.
From April to July 2024, a cross-sectional study surveyed Thai medical students studying in the first- to sixth-academic year. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling from one Faculty of Medicine and two Medical Education Centers located in southern Thailand. The survey utilized three questionnaires: Demographic and personal inquiry, the Nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGD Scale 9), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression to assess the prevalence of IGD and its association with depression among the participants.
The survey of 634 medical students, 54.9% were female, with a median age of 20 years (IQR: 19-22). Notably, 8.4% reported IGD, while 21.6% exhibited symptoms of depression; indicated by a PHQ-9 score of 9 or higher. Of the 114 medical students who were both depressed and engaged in gaming, 26 (4.1%) reported IGD. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences between the IGD and non-IGD groups regarding gender (p = 0.011) and depression (p < 0.001). Furthermore, medical students experiencing depression were about 7.5 times more likely to have IGD (95% CI: 3.8-14.5), indicating a strong correlation between higher PHQ-9 scores and the severity of IGD.
This study emphasizes the complex relationship between IGD and mental health issues, such as depression, among medical students. Medical schools should establish early detection systems to identify these challenges. By prioritizing prevention strategies for both IGD and depression, medical schools can provide students with the tools to develop healthier coping mechanisms. Encouraging gaming alternatives can significantly enhance their overall well-being and mental health.
有证据表明，网络游戏障碍（IGD）与抑郁症密切相关。因此，本研究旨在调查医学生中IGD的患病率，并检验IGD与抑郁症之间的关联。
2024年4月至7月，一项横断面研究对泰国第一至第六学年的医学生进行了调查。采用便利抽样法，从泰国南部一所医学院和两个医学教育中心招募参与者。该调查使用了三份问卷：人口统计学和个人询问问卷、九项网络游戏障碍量表（IGD量表9）以及患者健康问卷-9（PHQ-9）。使用描述性统计和逻辑回归分析数据，以评估参与者中IGD的患病率及其与抑郁症的关联。
对634名医学生的调查显示，54.9%为女性，中位年龄为20岁（四分位间距：19 - 22岁）。值得注意的是，8.4%的人报告有IGD，而21.6%的人表现出抑郁症状；PHQ-9得分9分或更高表明有抑郁症状。在114名既抑郁又玩游戏的医学生中，26人（4.1%）报告有IGD。统计分析表明，IGD组和非IGD组在性别（p = 0.011）和抑郁（p < 0.001）方面存在显著差异。此外，患有抑郁症的医学生患IGD的可能性大约高7.5倍（95%置信区间：3.8 - 14.5），这表明PHQ-9得分越高与IGD的严重程度之间存在很强的相关性。
本研究强调了医学生中IGD与心理健康问题（如抑郁症）之间的复杂关系。医学院应建立早期检测系统来识别这些挑战。通过优先考虑针对IGD和抑郁症的预防策略，医学院可以为学生提供发展更健康应对机制的工具。鼓励选择其他游戏方式可以显著提高他们的整体幸福感和心理健康水平。
