Internet gaming disorder and problematic social media use in a representative sample of German adolescents: Prevalence estimates, comorbid depressive symptoms and related psychosocial aspects

Background: Problematic use of computer games was incorporated in the DSM-5 (so-called Internet Gaming Disorder, IGD) and the ICD-11. Knowledge on problematic social media use (PSMU) is scarcer. This is the first study that investigates both IGD and PSMU in a representative sample. Methods: A sample of 1001 German 12- to 17-year olds (483 girls, 518 boys) was surveyed on IGD, PSMU, depressive symptoms and further psychosocial aspects (standardized questionnaires: IGDS, SMDS, DesTeen, KUSIV3, Family APGAR). Results: The one-year prevalence of IGD was 3.5%, of PSMU 2.6%, and 0.5% for combined IGD and PSMU. 14.3% of the adolescents with IGD, 34.6% with PSMU and 7.4% of the non-affected participants reported clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Bivariate logistic regression analyses showed that more depressive symptoms, lower interpersonal trust and family functioning were statistically significantly associated with both IGD and PSMU. Additionally, male gender and lower school achievement were related to IGD. In multivariable analyses, male gender and PSMU were associated with IGD, whereas, lower age, more depressive symptoms, lower family functioning, and IGD were related to PSMU. Conclusion: Clinically relevant depressive symptoms seem to occur not rarely in PSMU and IGD. We did not identify clearly different patterns of correlates for IGD and PSMU (except for gender). The overlapping confidence intervals of the parameter estimates for both behavior patterns indicate similar relationships between the investigated characteristics and IGD or PSMU.