In recent years there have been growing concerns about problematic Internet use (PIU) as potential mental health problem. Among the many activities available on the Internet, the time spent gaming appears one of the most frequent risk factors in developing PIU. The aim of the current study was to model the relationship between negative affect, metacognitions about online gaming, frequency of online gaming and PIU. A total of 326 Italian gamers (mean age = 27 years, SD = 5.65 years; 93.3% males) participated in the study. The pattern of relationships specified by the theoretical model was examined through path analysis. Results showed that negative affect was directly associated with all other variables. Specifically, positive, strong and direct associations were found between negative affect and both positive and negative metacognitions about online gaming. Moreover, negative metacognitions about online gaming were strongly linked to PIU. Overall, the theoretical model was supported showing that metacognitions about online gaming may play a role in the association between time spent on online gaming to a broader pattern of PIU. Results are discussed within the context of the metacognitive model of psychopathology and clinical implications based on this model are outlined.

中文翻译：

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在线游戏元认知建模：游戏时间在预测有问题的互联网使用中的作用

近年来，人们越来越担心有问题的互联网使用 (PIU) 作为潜在的心理健康问题。在互联网上提供的众多活动中，玩游戏的时间似乎是发展 PIU 最常见的风险因素之一。本研究的目的是模拟负面情绪、网络游戏元认知、网络游戏频率和 PIU 之间的关系。共有 326 名意大利游戏玩家（平均年龄 = 27 岁，SD = 5.65 岁；93.3% 为男性）参与了这项研究。通过路径分析检查理论模型指定的关系模式。结果表明，负面影响与所有其他变量直接相关。具体来说，积极的，在负面情绪与在线游戏的正面和负面元认知之间发现了强烈而直接的关联。此外，关于在线游戏的负面元认知与 PIU 密切相关。总体而言，理论模型得到支持，表明关于在线游戏的元认知可能在在线游戏上花费的时间与更广泛的 PIU 模式之间的关联中发挥作用。结果在精神病理学元认知模型的背景下进行了讨论，并概述了基于该模型的临床意义。