In a groundbreaking study that challenges traditional perceptions of gaming behaviors, researchers have delved into the complex landscape of problematic gaming, extending the inquiry beyond the realms of digital video games. The recent article published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction uncovers new insights into how the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF) can be applied to “analog” players—individuals engaging in non-digital gaming activities. This novel approach not only broadens the scope of gaming disorder research but also spotlights the critical role of gamer identification as a mediating factor in the development of problematic gaming behaviors.
Historically, much of the research focus has centered on digital platforms, particularly video games and online gaming environments. However, this newest investigation reconceptualizes gaming addiction by considering offline or “analog” gaming experiences, such as tabletop games, card games, and role-playing games, which have been largely overlooked despite their popularity and immersive qualities. The study posits that problematic engagement in gaming is not inherently tied to the digital nature of games but rather to the psychological and social dimensions of immersive play itself.
The research team employed a robust methodological framework, adapting the IGDS9-SF—an established tool for assessing Internet gaming disorder symptoms—toward measuring behaviors among analog gamers. This adaptation is significant because it opens up a standardized metric for capturing the nuances of problematic gaming across all gaming formats. The scale’s original design focuses on criteria outlined in the DSM-5 for Internet Gaming Disorder, including preoccupation with gaming, withdrawal symptoms, tolerance, loss of control, and negative consequences. By applying it to analog gamers, the researchers aimed to verify whether these clinical symptoms manifest similarly outside digital contexts.
A pivotal finding of the study was the confirmation that analog gamers do indeed exhibit symptoms that align with established criteria for gaming disorder. This revelation challenges the digital monopoly on problematic gaming discourse and underscores the need to recalibrate mental health assessments and interventions. The data revealed that individuals deeply identifying as gamers—irrespective of the medium—showed heightened vulnerability to addictive patterns and maladaptive gaming behaviors. This points to gamer identification itself as a psychological driver intensifying involvement and risk.
Delving deeper into the concept of gamer identification, the researchers delineated it as the extent to which individuals incorporate gaming into their sense of self and social identity. The findings suggest that strong gamer identification can act as a psychological mediator, exacerbating the trajectory from casual engagement to problematic overuse. The intense personal investment in the gaming identity increases susceptibility to neglect of real-life responsibilities, emotional dysregulation, and social isolation, hallmarks typically associated with gaming disorder.
This medico-psychological perspective echoes prevailing theories about identity and addiction, offering a sophisticated lens for understanding why certain players develop harmful habits while others maintain balanced play. In fact, the nuanced exploration of gamer identification aligns with broader psychological frameworks positing identity fusion and self-concept as critical moderators in addiction etiology. By quantifying this role within a gaming context, the study paves the way for tailored therapeutic strategies focusing on identity restructuring and healthier self-concept integration.
Critically, the study also confronts the stigmatization and pathologization of gaming by emphasizing that not all intensely involved gamers develop disorder-level symptoms. Instead, it highlights the importance of considering psychosocial dimensions, including social support, coping mechanisms, and contextual factors, which interact complexly with gamer identification. This promotes a more comprehensive approach to gaming-related mental health that transcends simplistic addiction models centered solely on screen time or hours played.
On a methodological note, the study’s rigorous use of psychometric validation and cross-sample analysis enhances the reliability of its conclusions and sets an empirical benchmark for future research. By incorporating diverse gaming populations and controlling for confounding variables such as age, gender, and gaming frequency, the research team robustly demonstrated the scale’s adaptability and relevance beyond the internet gaming sphere. This expands the practical utility of the IGDS9-SF in clinical and research settings aiming to assess and mitigate problematic gaming.
From a societal perspective, these findings bear substantial implications for mental health policies, gaming culture, and parental guidance frameworks. Acknowledging the risks associated with analog gaming, alongside digital formats, calls for inclusive prevention and intervention strategies. Educational programs and clinical screenings must evolve to recognize a broader spectrum of gaming behaviors that may herald addiction, promoting early detection regardless of gaming medium.
Moreover, the study contributes to ongoing debates about the classification of gaming disorder within psychiatric nosology. By demonstrating symptomatic parallels between digital and analog gaming, it challenges notions that gaming disorder should be exclusively contextualized within internet-mediated environments. This could influence future editions of diagnostic manuals and inform policymakers crafting mental health guidelines attuned to evolving gaming practices.
In light of these insights, the call to action is clear for clinicians, researchers, and the gaming community to collaboratively rethink how problematic gaming is understood, identified, and addressed. The embrace of gamer identification as a central mediator opens new avenues for developing psychosocial interventions that target identity-related processes rather than merely focusing on behavioral addictions in isolation.
Ultimately, this pioneering research compels a paradigm shift in gaming disorder scholarship, underscoring the universality of addictive potentials rooted in identity and engagement, not format. It invites ongoing exploration into how immersive play—digital or analog—intersects with human psychology to produce both enriching experiences and pathological vulnerabilities. As gaming continues to proliferate across diverse platforms, this expanded framework will be essential for safeguarding mental well-being while honoring the positive cultural and social value of gaming.
The implications extend well beyond academic circles, reaching educators, mental health practitioners, policymakers, and players themselves. Recognizing the multifaceted nature of gaming identity and its mediating influence on problematic behaviors fosters empathy and nuanced understanding, fortifying support systems tailored to individual needs. This holistic approach promises to reshape how societies respond to gaming-related challenges, promoting healthier engagement and resilience amid a rapidly evolving gaming landscape.
As the boundaries between digital and analog gaming blur, this study’s insights provide a timely and critical roadmap for future research and clinical practice. It urges a reconsideration of how gaming is framed within mental health paradigms, advocating for inclusive definitions and innovative assessment tools capable of capturing the full spectrum of gaming-related behaviors and their impacts on players’ lives.
In conclusion, the investigation into problematic gaming beyond video games, leveraging the IGDS9-SF and spotlighting gamer identification, constitutes a seminal contribution to addiction science and mental health research. It challenges entrenched assumptions, broadens evaluative lens, and points decisively toward integrated solutions that embrace the complexity of gaming experiences in the 21st century and beyond.
Subject of Research: Problematic gaming behaviors extending beyond digital video games into offline (“analog”) gaming, with assessment via the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form and the role of gamer identification as a mediating factor.
Article Title: Problematic Gaming Beyond Video Games—Exploring the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form With “Analog” Players and the Mediating Role of Gamer Identification.
Article References:
Gandolfi, E., Soyturk, I. & Kenne, D.R. Problematic Gaming Beyond Video Games—Exploring the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form With “Analog” Players and the Mediating Role of Gamer Identification. Int J Ment Health Addiction (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-025-01630-y
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