Association between childhood trauma and Internet gaming disorder: a moderated mediation analysis of depression as a mediator and psychological resilience as a moderator

Abstract

Abstract Background Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a severe mental health disorder. The effect of childhood trauma on IGD is currently unclear. Therefore, this study examined the association between childhood trauma and IGD among Chinese students. Additionally, we explored the potential roles of psychological resilience and depression in the association. Methods In total, 8,579 students from the Hunan province, China, provided information regarding their socio-demographic factors, childhood trauma, depression, psychological resilience, and traits of IGD. The impact of childhood trauma on IGD and the extent to which it was mediated by depression and moderated by psychological resilience was evaluated. Results Depression had a partial mediating effect on IGD resulting from childhood trauma (B = 0.2324, t = 18.3941, P < 0.001); psychological resilience provided a buffer against this effect (B = -0.0017, SE = 0.0006, P ＜ 0.0001). Psychological resilience also moderated the association between childhood trauma and depression (B = -0.0025, SE = 0.0005, P < 0.001). Our moderated mediation model elucidated the psychosocial mechanisms, highlighting the underlying link between childhood trauma and IGD. It also demonstrated the partial mediating role of depression and the modulating role of psychological resilience among Chinese students. Conclusions Education and interventions should be provided to enhance students’ psychological resilience and alleviate depression with effective social support.