Video game play and anxiety during late adolescence: The moderating effects of gender and social context
Open accessAbstract
Background Few studies have examined factors that moderate the relationship between playing video games and adolescent psychological adjustment. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to examine the relationship between playing video games and anxiety symptomatology in a sample of 441 11th and 12th grade students, while considering both gender and the social context (whether they played alone or with others).Methods Participants (66% non-Hispanic White) were administered a survey (including measures of technology use and anxiety symptomatology) in school at baseline and one year later.Results Both gender and the social context moderated the relationship between playing video games and anxiety symptomatology. Boys who played video games the most had the lowest levels of anxiety, whereas girls who played video games the most had the highest levels of anxiety. This relationship was exacerbated in the context of playing with others.Limitations Although the study has a number of strengths including the longitudinal design and the diverse sample, the study relied on self-report data. In addition, the sample was limited to adolescents residing in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Therefore, caution should be taken in regard to generalizing the results.Conclusions Findings from this study underscore the need to consider both gender and the social context when examining the relationship between playing video games and adolescent psychological adjustment.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The association between time spent playing videogames and subsequent anxiety symptoms was positive for females, but negative for males.
“while the second study reported that the association between time spent playing videogames and subsequent anxiety symptoms was positive for females, but negative for males (Ohannessian, 2018).”
From The relationship between screen time and mental health in young people: A systematic review of longitudinal studies (2021) · cites this paper as Ohannessian, 2018
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Merikangas, K. R., He, J.-P., Burstein, M., Swanson, S. A., Avenevoli, S., Cui, L., Benjet, C., Georgiades, K., & Swendsen, J. (2010) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2010.05.017 · Cited by 6,278 · see citing works
Lemola, S., Perkinson-Gloor, N., Brand, S., Dewald-Kaufmann, J. F., & Grob, A. (2015) · Journal of Youth and Adolescence · doi:10.1007/s10964-014-0176-x · Cited by 940 · see citing works
Action-Video-Game Experience Alters the Spatial Resolution of Vision
Green, C. S., & Bavelier, D. (2007) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01853.x · Cited by 881 · see citing works
Preadolescents' and adolescents' online communication and their closeness to friends.
Valkenburg, P. M., & Peter, J. (2007) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/0012-1649.43.2.267 · Cited by 870 · see citing works
(2013) · mediaTUM (Technical University of Munich) · Cited by 701 · see citing works
Video Games Do Affect Social Outcomes
Greitemeyer, T., & Mügge, D. O. (2014) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167213520459 · Cited by 652 · see citing works
(2015) · Cited by 640 · see citing works
Muris, P., Merckelbach, H. L. G. J., Ollendick, T. H., King, N. J., & Bogie, N. (2002) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(01)00056-0 · Cited by 472 · see citing works
Suchert, V., Hanewinkel, R., & Isensee, B. (2015) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.03.026 · Cited by 329 · see citing works
Costigan, S. A., Barnett, L., Plotnikoff, R. C., & Lubans, D. R. (2013) · Journal of Adolescent Health · doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.07.018 · Cited by 290 · see citing works
Teens, technology and friendships
Lenhart, A., Smith, A. W., Anderson, M., Duggan, M., & Perrin, A. (2015) · Cited by 271 · see citing works
Coping With Relationship Stressors: A Decade Review
Seiffge-Krenke, I. (2011) · Journal of Research on Adolescence · doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2010.00723.x · Cited by 187 · see citing works
Media Use and Adolescent Psychological Adjustment: An Examination of Gender Differences
Ohannessian, C. M. (2009) · Journal of Child and Family Studies · doi:10.1007/s10826-009-9261-2 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Self-citationWissink, I. B., Deković, M., & Meijer, A. M. (2006) · The Journal of Early Adolescence · doi:10.1177/0272431605285718 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Does self-competence predict gender differences in adolescent depression and anxiety?
Ohannessian, C. M., Lerner, R. M., Lerner, J. V., & von Eye, A. (1999) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1006/jado.1999.0231 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Self-citationBody image dissatisfaction, physical activity and screen-time in Spanish adolescents
Añez, E. V., Fornieles-Deu, A., Fauquet, J., López‐Guimerà, G., Puntí, J., & Sánchez‐Carracedo, D. (2016) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/1359105316664134 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
Maldonado, L., Huang, Y., Chen, R., Kasen, S., Cohen, P. R., & Chen, H. (2013) · Journal of Adolescent Health · doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.02.025 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Adachi, P. J. C., & Willoughby, T. (2016) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/cdev.12556 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Electronic Play, Study, Communication, and Adolescent Achievement, 2003–2008
Hofferth, S. L., & Moon, U. J. (2011) · Journal of Research on Adolescence · doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2011.00770.x · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Coping mediates the association between gender and depressive symptomatology in adolescence
Malooly, A. M., Flannery, K. M., & Ohannessian, C. M. (2015) · International Journal of Behavioral Development · doi:10.1177/0165025415616202 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Self-citationAdachi, P. J. C., & Willoughby, T. (2014) · Psychology of Popular Media Culture · doi:10.1037/ppm0000042 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Gender Differences and the Effect of Contextual Features on Game Enjoyment and Responses
Lin, S. (2010) · Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking · doi:10.1089/cyber.2009.0293 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Ohannessian, C. M. (2014) · Journal of Youth Development · doi:10.5195/jyd.2014.78 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Ohannessian CM 2015 A longitudinal examination of the relationship between technology use and substance use during adolescence Technology and Youth: Growing Up in a Digital World Emerald Group Publishing Limited 293 313
- Seiffge-Krenke I 2011 Coping with relationships tressors: A decade review J Res Adolesc 21 1 196 210
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Rodriguez-Ayllon, M., Cadenas-Sánchez, C., Estévez-López, F., Muñoz, N. E., Mora-Gonzalez, J., Migueles, J. H., Molina-García, P., Henriksson, H., Mena-Molina, A., Martínez-Vizcaíno, V., et al. (2019) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-019-01099-5 · Cited by 1,360 · see citing works
The Association Between Mobile Game Addiction and Depression, Social Anxiety, and Loneliness
Wang, J., Sheng, J.-R., & Wang, H.-Z. (2019) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2019.00247 · Cited by 291 · see citing works
Tang, S., Werner-Seidler, A., Torok, M., Mackinnon, A. J., & Christensen, H. (2021) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102021 · Cited by 284 · see citing works
Kowal, M., Conroy, E., Ramsbottom, N., Smithies, T. D., Toth, A. J., & Campbell, M. J. (2021) · JMIR Serious Games · doi:10.2196/26575 · Cited by 192 · see citing works
Zink, J., Belcher, B. R., Imm, K., & Leventhal, A. M. (2020) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-020-08572-1 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Karaca, S., Karakoç, A., Gürkan, Ö. C., Onan, N., & Barlas, G. Ü. (2020) · Community Mental Health Journal · doi:10.1007/s10597-019-00544-z · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Zhang, J., Yang, S. X., Wang, L., Han, L. H., & Wu, X. (2022) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.03.018 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Mougharbel, F., & Goldfield, G. S. (2020) · Current Obesity Reports · doi:10.1007/s13679-020-00401-1 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Liu, S. R., Davis, E. P., Palma, A. M., Sandman, C. A., & Glynn, L. M. (2021) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.11.030 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Mougharbel, F., Chaput, J., Sampasa‐Kanyinga, H., Colman, I., Leatherdale, S. T., Patte, K. A., & Goldfield, G. S. (2023) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1101594 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Hartanto, A., Lua, V. Y. Q., Quek, F. Y. X., Yong, J. C., & Ng, M. H. S. (2021) · Computers in Human Behavior Reports · doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100135 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Wang, H., & Cheng, C. (2020) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2020.106574 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Demaray, M. K., Ogg, J. A., Malecki, C. K., & Styck, K. M. (2021) · School Psychology Review · doi:10.1080/2372966x.2020.1869498 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Impact of Action Video Gaming Behavior on Attention, Anxiety, and Sleep Among University Students
Alsaad, F., Binkhamis, L., Alsalman, A., Alabdulqader, N., Alamer, M., Abualait, T., Khalil, M. S., & Al Ghamdi, K. S. (2022) · Psychology Research and Behavior Management · doi:10.2147/prbm.s347694 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
The Association between Video Game Time and Adolescent Mental Health: Evidence from Rural China
Li, L., Abbey, C., Wang, H., Zhu, A., Shao, T., Dai, D., Jin, S., & Rozelle, S. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph192214815 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Sánchez, M. C., Cuberos, R. C., Ubago-Jiménez, J. L., Zafra-Santos, E., & Ortega, F. Z. (2018) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph15091866 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
A Study on Technology Anxiety Among Different Ages and Genders
Hsieh, Y.-C., Tsai, W.-C., & Hsia, Y.-C. (2020) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-50232-4_17 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Garakani, A., Zhai, Z. W., Hoff, R. A., Krishnan‐Sarin, S., & Potenza, M. N. (2021) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.05.055 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Stiff, C., & Kedra, P. (2018) · Psychology of Popular Media · doi:10.1037/ppm0000210 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Zhao, W., Wei, T., Zhou, R., Wang, Y., Wang, Y., Ren, Z., Shao, W., Luo, H., Zhou, Y., Chen, N., et al. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.713364 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Jeon, H. G., Jeong, E. J., Lee, S. J., & Kim, J. A. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.756328 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
#KidsAnxiety and the Digital World
Glover, J., Ariefdjohan, M. W., & Fritsch, S. L. (2021) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.chc.2021.06.004 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Internet Gaming Disorder and Psychological Distress: a PRISMA systematic review
Gursesli, M. C., Guazzini, A., Thawonmas, R., Valenti, C., Duradoni, M., & Thawonmas, R. (2025) · Heliyon · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e43518 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Mensah, M., & Onyancha, O. B. (2021) · Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship · doi:10.1080/1941126x.2021.1949157 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
González, R. L., Noriega, C., Espín‐Lorite, E. J., García-Sastre, M., Rodríguez‐Rojo, I. C., Cuesta‐Lozano, D., & Peñacoba, C. (2022) · International Journal of Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1111/inm.13077 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Analyzing the Effect of Digital Technology on Mental Health
Raj, G., Sharma, A., & Arora, Y. (2024) · Advances in web technologies and engineering book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-6557-1.ch003 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Ma, W., Tariq, A., Ali, M. W., Nawaz, M., & Wang, X. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.862568 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Wei, X., Zhou, H., Zheng, Q., Ren, L., Chen, N., Wang, P., & Liu, C. (2024) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108184 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Goo, S. Y., Lee, T. H., Lim, H., Lee, E., Kim, J. Y., & Jeon, J. Y. (2023) · Mental health and physical activity · doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2023.100539 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Liu, Y., Qiu, Z., & van den Wildenberg, W. P. M. (2023) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-023-05113-y · Cited by 8 · see citing works
An exploratory study of problematic shopping and problematic video gaming in adolescents
Greenberg, N. R., Zhai, Z. W., Hoff, R. A., Krishnan‐Sarin, S., & Potenza, M. N. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0272228 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Technology Use Typologies and Psychological Adjustment During Adolescence
Ohannessian, C. M., & Vannucci, A. (2018) · Youth & Society · doi:10.1177/0044118x18785089 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Self-citationCabras, C., Cubadda, M. L., & Sechi, C. (2019) · International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations · doi:10.4018/ijgcms.2019070102 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Parent problem drinking trajectory classes predict anxiety in adolescence and emerging adulthood
Ohannessian, C. M., & Vannucci, A. (2022) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.104 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citationAge and Gender Differences in Mobile Game Acceptance Amongst Older Adults
Yu, R. W. L., Chan, A. H. S., & Ko, T. H. (2022) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-05581-2_44 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Li, Y., Li, J., Fan, Q., & Wang, Z. (2022) · Kybernetes · doi:10.1108/k-07-2021-0582 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
RetractedProblematic Media Use and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents: The Role of Age and Gender
Rodríguez‐Rojo, I. C., González, R. L., Peñacoba, C., García-Sastre, M., Espín‐Lorite, E. J., Cuesta‐Lozano, D., Esteve, Á. L. A., & Noriega, C. (2025) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare13030281 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Impact of Prolonged use of Video Gaming on Grip and Pinch Strength in Young Adult
Darwesh, A. A. E.-M., Almalhan, M. S. B. A., Bahmeshan, M. S. B. M., Alghamdi, M. A. B. A., Alamari, M. M. B. H., & Qurban, W. (2023) · Global Journal of Human-Social Science · doi:10.34257/gjhsshvol23is8pg29 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Effects of video game on socio- behavioral environment
Shirley, P., Arumugam, B., Suganya, E., & Gowthamraj, M. (2018) · International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health · doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20185253 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Neurosociological perspectives on video games: A narrative review
Coelho, F., & Abreu, A. M. (2025) · Human Technology · doi:10.14254/1795-6889.2025.21-3.1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Specific Types of Screen-Based Sedentary Time and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents
Shande, L. (2022) · International Journal of Mental Health Promotion · doi:10.32604/ijmhp.2022.018542 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
إدمان الطلاب على استخدام مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي وعلاقته بالأمن النفسي والتورط في الجرائم السيبرانية
الصبان, ع. م., & الحربي, س. ع. (2019) · International Journal of Educational & Psychological Studies · doi:10.31559/eps2019.6.2.8 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Cabras, C., Cubadda, M. L., & Sechi, C. (2022) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-6684-7589-8.ch084 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Wachsende Abhängigkeit der Jugendlichen von sozialen Medien
Kothambikar, A. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-39489-9_2
Bueyes-Roiz, V., Quiñones-Urióstegui, I., Valencia, E., Alba, F. L.-D., Quijano, Y., Anaya-Campos, L., & Pérez-Orive, J. (2023) · Investigación en Discapacidad · doi:10.35366/111118
Growing Social Media Addiction Among Youth
Kothambikar, A. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-34382-7_2
Adolescence Mental Health in School and University
(2024) · Frontiers research topics · doi:10.3389/978-2-8325-5237-7
Chen, R., Bai, M.-S., Zhao, T. T., Yang, X., Mohamed, Z. A., & Jia, F. (2025) · BMC Pediatrics · doi:10.1186/s12887-025-06203-5
Sharma, S., Agrawal, V., Bhadoriya, D., Kumar, A., & Chauhan, S. (2025) · De Gruyter eBooks · doi:10.1515/9783111429458-010
Naidu, S., & Pandaram, A. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6439081
Lemercier-Dugarin, M. (2020) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/3532567fz09e2z4042zbe72z56c475c03e40
Effectivity of Exposure Therapy Simulations in Video Games on Mitigating Social Anxiety
Gallaron, J. L., Fetiluna, M. G., Abella, L. A., & Patalita, V. (2026) · IEEE International Conference on Consumer Technology (ICCT-Pacific) · doi:10.1109/icct-pacific69083.2026.11518650
Xiao, Y., Huang, Y., & Miao, S. (2026) · Transactions in Planning and Urban Research · doi:10.1177/27541223261477536
- Authors
- Ohannessian, C. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Connecticut (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ohannessian, Christine McCauley
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-01
- Volume
- 226
- Pages
- 216-219
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5815171
- OpenAlex
- W2761349067
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 9.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Digital Games and Media
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- video gaming, anxiety, late adolescence, gender differences, social environment, adolescent adjustment, moderating effect, technology use
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sex Factors, Social Environment, Students, Video Games
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
