Gaming-related harms and help-seeking experiences across problem gaming risk groups: A cluster profile analysis

Background and Aims: Gaming disorder (GD) has an emerging evidence base on its etiology, risk factors, and treatment. Less is known about how problem gamers differ in terms of gaming-related harm and help-seeking. This study aimed to identify adult gamer profiles based on GD symptoms and correlates, and examine profile differences in psychosocial risk factors, gaming-related harms and help-seeking. Methods: Adult gamers aged 18 to 30 (N = 1,036; mean age = 25.7 years, SD = 3.1; 33% female) who reported playing >13 h/week recruited via Prolific. Participants completed the Red Box, Green Box, Internet Gaming Disorder Test-10, Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, as well as questions on domains of gaming-related harms and help-seeking history and intentions. Cluster profiles were derived using k-means clustering on GD symptoms and correlates. Hierarchical clustering corroborated the number of clusters. Results: A total of 4.9% reported past help-seeking for problem gaming. Cluster analysis identified four distinct profiles: 'impulsive-dysregulated' gamers, 'emotionally vulnerable' gamers, 'impulsive' gamers, and 'regulated' gamers. The 'impulsive-dysregulated' profile reported significantly more GD symptoms, harms, and emotion-regulation difficulties than the other profiles. This profile reported lower help-seeking for gaming and the lowest future intention to seek any support, compared to other profiles. Conclusions: Gamers of varying clinical characteristics reported low rates of treatment-seeking. These results support calls for improving help pathways and resources, including more accessible GD interventions tailored to address emotion regulation and impulse control deficits.