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Cited by 33Impact of Technology on AdolescentsGambling Behavior and TreatmentsDigital Games and Media

Problem mobile gaming: The role of mobile gaming habits, context, and platform

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Syvertsen, André, Ortiz de Gortari, Angelica B., King, Daniel L., Pallesen, Ståle·2022·Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
DOI 10.1177/14550725221083189PMC PMC9379297
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Abstract

Aims: Mobile gaming is a dominant form of gaming, known for its portability and for game characteristics that motivate continuous play and spending. Such involvement may also turn problematic, but research on problem gaming (PG) has tended to focus on non-mobile forms of gaming. The study was based on a cross-sectional observational design where students in upper secondary schools were recruited to a survey about mobile gaming. The age of the respondents ranged from 16 to 23 years ( n = 519; 52.4% men; mean age = 17.2 years, SD = 1.1). Methods: We examined (1) gaming frequency, gaming contexts, and in-game spending in relation to PG; (2) gaming context in relation to academic achievement and sleep quality; and (3) PG according to gaming platform (i.e., playing on mobile, console/computer, or mixed platforms) with Kruskal−Wallis tests, chi-square tests and Spearman rank-order correlations. Results: PG was positively associated with mobile gaming hours per week (η 2 = .02, p < .01), minutes per session (η 2 = .03, p < .001), making in-app purchases (Cramer's V = .15, p < .05), and gaming during homework (Cramer's V = .14, p < .05). Statistically significant associations were found between mobile gaming in bed and later sleep midpoint for weekdays ( r s = .18, p < .001) and weekends ( r s = .11, p < .05). Mixed platform gamers had increased likelihood of PG, console/computer gamers had increased likelihood of being at risk for PG, and mobile gamers had lower risk for PG (Cramer's V = .18, p < .001). Conclusion: Future studies should include specific measures of mobile gaming as it appears implicated in problem gaming, albeit to a lesser degree than console and computer gaming.

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  • Mobile gaming among students while in bed was associated with delayed sleep but not lower GPA.

    “Interestingly, Syvertsen et al. (2022) observed that mobile gaming among students while in bed was associated with delayed sleep but not lower GPA.”

    From Extracurricular Video Game Use and Academic Achievement: A Systematic Literature Review (2026) · cites this paper as Syvertsen et al. (2022)

    The Results report that mobile gaming in bed was associated with a later sleep midpoint on weekdays and weekends, indicating delayed sleep phase. But the GPA analyses tested gaming during class and homework, not gaming in bed; the paper therefore does not establish the claim's bed-gaming–GPA comparison. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Traditional achievement measures may not fully capture attentional or engagement related costs of gaming during class or homework.

    “suggesting that traditional achievement measures may not fully capture attentional or engagement related costs (Syvertsen et al., 2022).”

    From Extracurricular Video Game Use and Academic Achievement: A Systematic Literature Review (2026) · cites this paper as Syvertsen et al., 2022

    The Results and Conclusion report no significant relationship between gaming during class or homework and GPA, and the Conclusion calls for more sophisticated ways to measure interference with daily functioning (page not provided). This supports the possibility that GPA misses some effects, but the paper does not measure or establish attentional or engagement-related costs in those settings. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Gaming during class or while completing homework is not always associated with lower GPA.

    “Some studies suggest that gaming during class or while completing homework is not always associated with lower GPA, suggesting that traditional achievement measures may not fully capture attentional or engagement related costs (Syvertsen et al., 2022).”

    From Extracurricular Video Game Use and Academic Achievement: A Systematic Literature Review (2026) · cites this paper as Syvertsen et al., 2022

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Syvertsen, A., Ortiz de Gortari, A. B., King, D. L., & Pallesen, S.
Affiliations
  • University of Bergen (NO)
  • University of Bergen, Norway; and University of Liège, Belgium
  • Flinders University (AU)
  • North-West University (ZA)
Corresponding author
Syvertsen, André
ORCID
Venue
Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2022-04-07
Volume
39
Issue
4
Pages
362-378
ISSN
  • 1455-0725 (ISSN-L)
  • 1458-6126
DOI
10.1177/14550725221083189
PMC
PMC9379297
OpenAlex
W4226070021
Cited by
33
References
11
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3
FWCI
10.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Digital Games and Media
Keywords
problem gaming, mobile gaming, gaming habits, in-app purchases, game platforms, sleep quality, academic performance, adolescents, high school students

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