Longitudinal Network Relationships Between Symptoms of Deviant Peer Affiliation and Internet Gaming Disorder in Adolescents: Prospective Cohort Study

Our findings provided valuable insights into the complex relationships between DPA and IGD symptoms, highlighting that the IGD-DPA relationship is primarily driven by within-person dynamic changes rather than stable trait-level differences. This suggests that interventions aimed at reducing IGD risk should focus on addressing the dynamic, time-dependent interactions between gaming behaviors and peer relationships. Prevention programs should focus on healthy peer relationships and adaptive coping strategies to reduce IGD risk and its social consequences. Targeted interventions could disrupt the cycle of maladaptive behavior by focusing on improving both peer and social functioning during critical developmental periods, ultimately preventing the exacerbation of these behavioral issues over time.