'Gaming under Control'.

Playing videogames is one of the most popular activities among adolescents. Recent studies showed that most Dutch adolescents play videogames every week (Van Rooij, Schoenmakers, Meerkerk, & van de Mheen, 2008). Although several studies show that playing games may have beneficial effects, there is some evidence that playing videogames may have serious negative effects, including the risk for some people to develop addictive patterns of gaming (Griffiths, Davies, & Chappel, 2003; Griffiths, 2008). Lemmens concluded in a recent study (2009) that 2% of Dutch adolescents are addicted to games. Therefore, University of Twente developed in cooperation with the Brijder Addiction Care Group 'Gaming under Control', an online program which is partly based on an existing online intervention for adolescent alcohol and cannabis abuse. This program is developed for adolescents aged 16-20 years who play videogames and would like to investigate their own gaming behavior and are experiencing game related problems. The objectives of this training are: Increasing awareness and readiness to change, and reinforcing self-control of gaming behavior. Ultimately, this intervention aims to contribute to a reduction of psychosocial problems caused by excessive gaming behavior. The three- week program consists of four assignments which are derived from evidence-based methods, like motivational interviewing and self-regulation techniques. In the first assignment participants report their current well-being and game-related problems by completing a ‘mood board’ of their life. The second assignment involves self-monitoring of their gaming behavior by keeping a ‘gaming diary’. In the third assignment they are motivated to make a decisional balance by analyzing positive and negative consequences of gaming. In the last assignment they examine personal ‘risk situations’ leading to excessive gaming, and exercise with avoiding and altering those situations. During the program, the participants are guided by a coach via online chat. This online training can be used as a indicated preventive and early intervention program.

Purpose of the study:

Evaluate the effects of the intervention with post-program and 3-month follow-up measurements.



Hypothesis:

The intervention group shows, in comparison with a 'waitinglist' control group, an increase in self-control en psychosocial wellbeing, and a decrease in score on problematic game behavior.

Measurements:

1. Before the intervention (t0; baseline);

2. After the intervention (t1; 4 weeks after baseline);

3. 3 months after the intervention (t2; 4 months after baseline);

4. Only for the experimental condition: 6 months after the intervention (t3; 7 months after baseline).

‘Gaming under Control’ is a program aimed at adolescents aged 16 to 20 years who play videogames and would like to investigate their own gaming behavior. The objectives of this training are: Increasing awareness and readiness to change, and reinforcing self-control of game behavior. Ultimately, this intervention aims to contribute to a reduction of psychosocial problems caused by excessive game behavior. The three-week program 'Gaming under Control' consists of four assignments which are derived from evidence-based methods, like motivational interviewing and self-regulation techniques. In the first assignment participants report their current well-being and game-related problems by completing a ‘mood board’ of their life. The second assignment involves self-monitoring of their gaming behavior by keeping a ‘gaming diary’. In the third assignment they are motivated to make a decisional balance by analyzing positive and negative consequences of gaming. In the last assignment they examine personal ‘risk situations’ leading to excessive gaming, and exercise with avoiding and altering those situations. During the program, the participants are guided by a coach via online chat. This online training can be used as a indicated preventive and early intervention program.



The control-group will be on a waitinglist.