TY - JOUR
T1 - A systematic review of problematic video-game use in people with Autism Spectrum Disorders
AU - Craig, Francesco
AU - Tenuta, Flaviana
AU - De Giacomo, Andrea
AU - Trabacca, Antonio
AU - Costabile, Angela
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/4
Y1 - 2021/4
N2 - Background: In recent years, an increasing number of studies documented potential links between gaming disorders (GD; including “digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to summarize current research about problematic video game (PVG) use in people with ASD and identify specific factors associated with problematic video gaming behavior. Method: We searched for articles indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost electronic databases; using a combination of expressions including “autism spectrum disorder” OR “autism” OR “ASD” AND “video games” OR “gaming disorder” OR “Internet Gaming Disorder” OR “game addiction”. Results: Twelve articles were included in this systematic review. The majority of them indicate that children, adolescents and adults with ASD may be at greater risk of PVG use than youths without ASD. Findings also suggested that several internal (sex, attention and oppositional behavior problems) and external factors (social aspects, access and time spent playing video, parental rules, and game genre) were significant predictors of problematic video game use in people with ASD. In addition, this review highlights the paucity of the literature on the consequences and individual effects of excessive video gaming in people with ASD. Conclusions: We discuss unanswered questions and future directions and provide recommendations for improving clinicians and parents’ engagement in the prevention and management of problematic video game use in people with ASD.
AB - Background: In recent years, an increasing number of studies documented potential links between gaming disorders (GD; including “digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to summarize current research about problematic video game (PVG) use in people with ASD and identify specific factors associated with problematic video gaming behavior. Method: We searched for articles indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost electronic databases; using a combination of expressions including “autism spectrum disorder” OR “autism” OR “ASD” AND “video games” OR “gaming disorder” OR “Internet Gaming Disorder” OR “game addiction”. Results: Twelve articles were included in this systematic review. The majority of them indicate that children, adolescents and adults with ASD may be at greater risk of PVG use than youths without ASD. Findings also suggested that several internal (sex, attention and oppositional behavior problems) and external factors (social aspects, access and time spent playing video, parental rules, and game genre) were significant predictors of problematic video game use in people with ASD. In addition, this review highlights the paucity of the literature on the consequences and individual effects of excessive video gaming in people with ASD. Conclusions: We discuss unanswered questions and future directions and provide recommendations for improving clinicians and parents’ engagement in the prevention and management of problematic video game use in people with ASD.
KW - Addiction
KW - Autism
KW - Gaming disorders
KW - Systematic review
KW - Video-gaming
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U2 - 10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101726
DO - 10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101726
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85100043236
VL - 82
JO - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
JF - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
SN - 1750-9467
M1 - 101726
ER -