Internet Gaming Disorder and School Attainment: The Moderating Role of Parental Control

Abstract

Aim: Excessive gaming is negatively related to school attainment. This study aimed to explore whether parental control moderates the relation between internet gaming disorder (IGD) and school attainment, and whether these relationships are further moderated by gender. Methods:As part of the Digital Youth Project of the University of Utrecht, a one wave sample of 11- to 18-year-old adolescents (N = 1327) was used. The students answered questions to measure the problematic use of gaming, levels of parental control and school attainment. Results: The excessive use of games and high levels of parental control were negatively related to school attainment; however, this study did not find a significant interaction between parental control and internet gaming disorder in relation to school attainment. In addition, the interaction was also non significant regarding gender. Conclusion: This study provides further evidence that excessive gaming affects school attainment negatively, and that parental control does not buffer IGD in its relation to school attainment, for both boys and girls.