TY  - EJOU
AU  - Yang, Jie 
AU  - Ma, Wenhui 
AU  - Tang, Yan 
AU  - Gao, Bin 

TI  - Latent profile and transition analyses of internet gaming disorder among college students: A one-year longitudinal study
T2  - Journal of Psychology in Africa

PY  - 
VL  - 
IS  - 
SN  - 1815-5626

AB  - Previous research has indicated heterogeneity in Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) profiles in college students. However, longitudinal evidence regarding the stability and transition patterns of IGD subgroups among college students remains limited. This two-wave longitudinal study, with a one-year interval, included 343 Chinese undergraduate students (57.7% female; mean age = 18.28 years, SD = 1.14) who participated in both surveys. Latent profile analysis identified three distinct IGD subgroups—High, Moderate, and Low IGD—which were consistent across both time points. Regression analyses indicated that male gender, greater gaming time, loneliness, and depression were associated with higher IGD severity. Self-control consistently served as a protective factor. Latent transition analysis revealed moderate stability but substantial fluidity in IGD profiles, particularly among Moderate and High IGD groups, suggesting that IGD is a dynamic condition that changes over time. These findings are consistent with self-regulation theory and compensatory internet use theory and underscore the importance of integrated self-regulatory interventions to address IGD in university settings.
KW  - Internet gaming disorder; college students; latent profile analysis; latent transition analysis; risk and protective factors

DO  - 10.32604/jpa.2026.078648