Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and Smartphone Addiction: Parent Clinical Treatment Trial

There is a lack of clinical treatment trials focusing on parent management strategies for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and smartphone addiction. The aim of the current study was to examine the efficacy of the online parent management videos in reducing IGD and smartphone addiction symptoms and associated developmental impacts. A total of N=689 parent participants (with school aged children) completed baseline measures, of which 59.9% had a child with clinical levels of IGD and/or smartphone addiction. The results analysed at 6-week follow up found 60% treatment success for IGD and 32% for Smartphone addiction (non-clinical at follow-up). Increased levels of dosage and compliance with the program was statistically significant in reducing IGD and smartphone addiction, particularly for the clinical sample. Increased levels of dosage and compliance was also correlated with significant reduction in overall developmental impact, and sub-domains of physical/social development and education. These findings have implications for utilising online parent management strategies for prevention and treatment of both IGD and smartphone addiction either as a stand-alone intervention or in conjunction with established individual treatments like CBT.