The use of videogames, personality and emotion regulation in a sample of Italian adolescents

Key words: Internet gaming disorder, Videogame use, Personality traits, Emotion regulation, Adolescence

Background - The use of the internet is a relevant part of daily life and is radically changing social relations. However, the excessive use of the web and, in particular, of online videogames can have negative impact on adolescent psychophysical well-being.
Objectives - The aim of the present study was to analyse the associations between the problematic use of video games, emotion regulation and personality trait domains in a sample of Italian adolescents.
Material and methods - 272 Italian adolescents aged 11-17 years (M = 13.31, SD = 2.33) were involved in this study. Participants completed the Video Game Dependency Scale, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale.
Results - Findings show how the problematic use of video games and the risk of developing internet gaming disorder - investigated using Video Game Dependency Scale - are associated with the absence of effective strategies of emotion regulation - explored by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - as well as to specific personality traits, antagonism and psychoticism - assessed by The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 Brief Form.
Conclusions - These results have been discussed at length in the recent scientific literature considering the role of personality and emotional regulation in the development of Internet Gaming Disorder.