Association Between Dysfunctional Parenting Practices and Suspected Gaming Disorder Among Japanese Male Junior High School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study of Parental Assessment

The growing prevalence of gaming disorder (GD) in adolescents is a global concern. Despite parents’ critical role in addressing GD, how dysfunctional parenting practices are associated with adolescent GD remains understudied. This study assessed the association between dysfunctional parenting practices and adolescent GD among Japanese male junior high school students. Data were collected in 2024 via web-based, self-administered questionnaires from 300 parents (183 fathers and 117 mothers), each reporting on one male junior high school student. Suspected GD was assessed using a validated parent report measure (i.e., the Gaming Disorder Scale for Parents). Dysfunctional parenting practices were measured using the Parenting Scale, comprising two dimensions: Overreactivity and Laxness. Mean factor scores of Overreactivity and Laxness were compared between the suspected and non-suspected GD groups using a t-test. Logistic regression models assessed the association of Overreactivity and Laxness with suspected GD, controlling for covariates. The mean score of Overreactivity was significantly higher in the suspected GD group than in the non-suspected group, whereas that of Laxness was not. After adjustment, overreactive parenting was significantly associated with suspected GD (adjusted odds ratio: 1.89, 95% CI [1.31, 2.74]). This study showed that overreactive parenting was independently and significantly associated with increased odds of suspected GD.