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Background <p>Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and anxiety frequently co-occur among young adults and represent an increasing mental health concern in China. Nevertheless, the psychological network underlying this comorbidity and the identification of potential intervention targets remain poorly understood.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a cross-sectional study of 605 Chinese university freshmen to investigate the association between internet gaming disorder (IGD), anxiety. And the behavioral inhibition system (BIS)/ behavioral activation system (BAS) was examined as potential mediators of this relationship.</p> Results <p>Anxiety was positively associated with Internet gaming disorder (IGD), with the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) functioning as a complementary partial mediation. Complementary configurational and network analyses further identified heightened punishment/ reward sensitivity and loss of control over mind and behavior as key psychological symptoms linking IGD to anxiety.</p> Conclusions <p>These findings highlight anxiety’s central role in IGD, with an imbalance in reward and punishment sensitivity closely associated with the comorbidity. Intense gaming rewards reinforce the drive to continue playing, while cessation triggers negative emotions like anxiety. These results emphasize the need for interventions that promote healthier emotional regulation in individuals with IGD and comorbid anxiety.</p>

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Comorbidity of internet gaming disorder and anxiety in first-year Chinese university students: the mediating role of behavioral inhibition and activation systems

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月22日

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  • Jie Chen,
  • Zhenzhen Zhang,
  • Siwen Fu,
  • Biyu Wen,
  • Zeming Chen,
  • Xiaochun Wang

摘要

Background

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and anxiety frequently co-occur among young adults and represent an increasing mental health concern in China. Nevertheless, the psychological network underlying this comorbidity and the identification of potential intervention targets remain poorly understood.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 605 Chinese university freshmen to investigate the association between internet gaming disorder (IGD), anxiety. And the behavioral inhibition system (BIS)/ behavioral activation system (BAS) was examined as potential mediators of this relationship.

Results

Anxiety was positively associated with Internet gaming disorder (IGD), with the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) functioning as a complementary partial mediation. Complementary configurational and network analyses further identified heightened punishment/ reward sensitivity and loss of control over mind and behavior as key psychological symptoms linking IGD to anxiety.

Conclusions

These findings highlight anxiety’s central role in IGD, with an imbalance in reward and punishment sensitivity closely associated with the comorbidity. Intense gaming rewards reinforce the drive to continue playing, while cessation triggers negative emotions like anxiety. These results emphasize the need for interventions that promote healthier emotional regulation in individuals with IGD and comorbid anxiety.