Self-Control Buffers the Association Between Aggression and Problematic Internet Gaming in Adolescents

Objective Problematic internet gaming is an increasing mental health concern in adolescence; however, not all individuals exposed to known risk factors develop maladaptive gaming behaviors. Although aggression and self-control have each been linked to gaming-related problems, their interactive effects remain insufficiently understood. Methods This study examined whether self-control moderates the association between aggression and problematic internet gaming among adolescents. Baseline data from 1,914 first-grade middle school students participating in the internet gaming disorder cohort study (Internet User Cohort for Unbiased Recognition of Gaming Disorder in Early Adolescence) were analyzed. Gaming-related problems were assessed using the Internet Gaming Use–Elicited Symptom Screen. Aggression and self-control were measured with validated self-report scales. Depressive symptoms, trait anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms were included as covariates. Group differences were examined using t-tests and chi-square tests. Results Moderation analyses tested whether self-control altered the association between aggression and gaming-related problems. Self-control significantly moderated the association between aggression and gaming-related problems, such that higher self-control attenuated the positive relationship between aggression and problematic gaming. Gaming-related problems were more prevalent among males, adolescents whose parents had a high school education or lower, and those not residing in two-parent households. Conclusion Self-control influences the strength of the association between aggression and maladaptive gaming behaviors in adolescence, underscoring its role as a protective factor in problematic internet gaming.