Temporal distortion may mediate the association between problematic mobile gaming and delay discounting: An experimental study

Background Impulsivity and delay discounting are considered core components of addiction and are increasingly associated with problematic mobile gaming. However, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Emerging evidence suggests that altered time perception may contribute to impulsive decision-making in addictive behaviors. Therefore, the present study compared differences in time perception and delay discounting between problematic and non-problematic mobile gamers, and explored the mediating roles of impulsivity and time perception. Methods A total of 98 participants were recruited via an online platform and completed a battery of assessments, including the Problematic Mobile Gaming Questionnaire (PMGQ), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), a time perception task, and a Delay Discounting Task (DDT). Participants were categorized into two groups: problematic mobile gamers (PMGs; n = 21) and non-problematic mobile gamers (NPMGs; n = 77). Results Compared to NPMGs, PMGs showed significantly higher levels of impulsivity, delay discounting (k), and a relative error rate of time perception in 60 s (Rer 60 ). A parallel mediation analysis showed that PMGQ score significantly predicted BIS-11 and Rer 60 ( β = .44 and .41, p < .001). Rer 60 marginally predicted delay discounting rate ( β = .18, p = .09), whereas the BIS-11 score did not. The total indirect effect was significant ( β = .01, 95% CI [.0018, .0148]), with Rer 60 emerging as the primary mediator. Conclusion The findings suggest that time perception distortion, rather than impulsivity, mediates the association between problematic mobile gaming and delay discounting.