Associations Between Different Types of Child Victimization and Gaming Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis

Child victimization negatively impacts many aspects of health in children and adolescents. An increasing number of studies have examined the influence of child victimization on gaming disorder (GD), though findings have been inconclusive. To address this problem, in this meta-analytic study, we quantitatively synthesized existing empirical evidence on the associations between different types of child victimization and GD and examined whether study and participant characteristics moderate the association. Studies examining the relationship between victimization and GD published before December 8, 2023 were identified through systematic searches conducted in PubMed, CINAHL Complete, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases. Thirty-six studies (112,057 participants) met the study selection criteria and showed a significant association between child victimization and GD, with a small effect size (r = .221; 95% confidence interval, CI [0.174, 0.268], p < .001). The pooled effect sizes for different types of victimization ranged from r = .154 to .218 (ps < .05). The overall effect size is relatively consistent, independent of age and sex of participants, study regions, study quality, and sampling methods. Study design and study samples are the only two significant moderators, with larger pooled effect sizes for cross-sectional studies (r = .245; [0.188, 0.300]) and clinical samples (r = .468; [0.328, 0.588]). Child victimization is a significant risk factor for GD, regardless of the specific type of victimization. Prevention strategies addressing multiple types of victimization are recommended.