The researchers use the I-PACE model to guide their study. They want to find out which happens first: do mental health problems make teenagers more likely to develop gaming disorder, or can problematic gaming lead to mental health problems later?
They also consider other possible influences, such as body and brain factors, personality, and negative thoughts about social situations. They use statistical methods to study how these factors are connected over time.
The researchers hope their results will help professionals choose what to focus on in early treatment, so they can better support teenagers who may be at risk of gaming disorder.