Correlational study between online friendship network and internet game disorder among university students

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide basic information about the analysis of the correlation between online friendship network and internet game disorder among university students. METHODS: Study subjects were 77 university students. For analysis of online friendship among them, social network analysis was performed and the analysis of degree, closeness, and betweenness centrality was measured. Assessment of internet game disorder was done using the Korean version of Internet Gaming Disorder Scale. RESULTS: As per the results, the positive correlation showed between in‐closeness centrality and internet gaming disorder (IGD) and the negative correlation showed between out‐closeness centrality and internet gaming disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Online friendship is considered to contribute to the changes of internet game disorder level. Thus, in the relationship between online friendship and internet game disorder, closeness centrality should be considered, and causal relation analysis should be performed in further studies.