RESEARCH PAPER
Sleep disturbances partly mediate the association between chronotype and depressive symptoms in adult video game players
1
Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University, Sopot, Poland
Submission date: 2023-11-13
Final revision date: 2024-07-08
Acceptance date: 2024-09-22
Online publication date: 2024-11-14
Current Issues in Personality Psychology 2025;13(3):167-175
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Playing video games is a popular leisure activity, but if prolonged it can increase the risk of sleep and mood disturbances. Individuals with an evening chronotype show a greater tendency to be engrossed in video games.
Participants and procedure:
This study tested whether sleep disturbances would mediate the association between chronotype and depressive symptoms in adult video game players. Participants were 1208 adults (86.7% men, mean age 27.4 ± 8.07 years) who regularly play video games. Chronotype was assessed with the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbance was evaluated with the Athens Insomnia Scale.
Results:
We found that adults who play video games and show an evening chronotype preference spent more time playing than those with a more intermediate or morning preference. An evening chronotype was linked to a higher level of depressive symptoms, and our bootstrap mediation analysis revealed that sleep disturbances partly mediated this association (β = –.15, SE = .02, 95% CI [–.19; –.11]).
Conclusions:
Our study suggests that an evening chronotype should be considered when exploring psychological risk factors contributing to the development of problematic gaming. In adults who play video games and display a tendency towards eveningness, higher rates of depressive symptoms may be partly explained by inadequate sleep.
Playing video games is a popular leisure activity, but if prolonged it can increase the risk of sleep and mood disturbances. Individuals with an evening chronotype show a greater tendency to be engrossed in video games.
Participants and procedure:
This study tested whether sleep disturbances would mediate the association between chronotype and depressive symptoms in adult video game players. Participants were 1208 adults (86.7% men, mean age 27.4 ± 8.07 years) who regularly play video games. Chronotype was assessed with the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbance was evaluated with the Athens Insomnia Scale.
Results:
We found that adults who play video games and show an evening chronotype preference spent more time playing than those with a more intermediate or morning preference. An evening chronotype was linked to a higher level of depressive symptoms, and our bootstrap mediation analysis revealed that sleep disturbances partly mediated this association (β = –.15, SE = .02, 95% CI [–.19; –.11]).
Conclusions:
Our study suggests that an evening chronotype should be considered when exploring psychological risk factors contributing to the development of problematic gaming. In adults who play video games and display a tendency towards eveningness, higher rates of depressive symptoms may be partly explained by inadequate sleep.
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