J Korean Med Sci.  2019 Jun;34(23):e162. 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e162.

A Comparison of Risk and Protective Factors for Excessive Internet Game Play between Koreans in Korea and Immigrant Koreans in the United States

• Hong JS
• Kim SM
• Jung JW
• Kim SY
• Chung US
• Han DH

• KMID: 2449525
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e162

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Studying immigrants may have the potential to explore how cultural and environmental changes affect the internet game play patterns of individuals in the two countries. We planned to compare risk and preventive factors for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) between Korean adolescents in Korea and immigrant Koreans in the US.
METHODS
Ninety-four Koreans and 133 immigrant Koreans were recruited. Independent factors consisted of five domains including demographic data, physical activity, academic, art, and music activities, psychological factors, and game and media play. The dependent variable in the current study was the high-risk group of IGD, which was assessed with Young's Internet Addiction Scale scores. To determine the protective and risk factors for IGD, we performed a multiple logistic regression analysis using the high-risk group as the dependent variable.
RESULTS
Five domains affected the risk for IGD in Korean and immigrant Korean groups. Vigorous physical activity was the strongest protective factor for IGD in the Korean group, while media activity was the strongest protective factor for IGD in immigrant Koreans in the US.
CONCLUSION
The results indicate that internet gaming problems might be affected by environmental factors and it is recommended that gaming activity is substituted with physical activity, extracurricular classes, books, and music.

Keyword

Internet Gaming Disorder; Immigrant Koreans; Physical Activity; Reading Books

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Emigrants and Immigrants*
Humans
Immunoglobulin D
Internet*
Korea*
Logistic Models
Motor Activity
Music
Protective Factors*
Psychology
Risk Factors
United States*
Immunoglobulin D