Association Between Parenting Styles and Gaming Disorder Among Japanese Adolescents in Tokyo, Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study

The growing prevalence of gaming disorder (GD) in adolescents is a global concern. Although parents should play a critical role in preventing GD, how parenting styles help prevent adolescent GD remains understudied. This study assessed the association of parenting styles with adolescent GD in junior high school boys in Tokyo, Japan. Data were collected in 2024 via web-based, self-administered questionnaires from 300 parents. Suspected adolescent GD was assessed using a validated parent report measure (i.e., the Gaming Disorder Scale for Parents). Parenting styles were measured using the Parenting Scale, comprising two dimensions: Overreactivity and Laxness. The mean factor scores of Overreactivity and Laxness were compared between the suspected and non-suspected GD groups by t-test. Logistic regression analysis assessed the association of Overreactivity and Laxness with suspected GD, controlling for covariates. The mean factor score of Overreactivity was significantly higher in the suspected GD than in the non-suspected group, whereas Laxness was not. Logistic regression analysis identified parental Overreactivity as an independent predictor of suspected GD (adjusted odds ratio: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.49). This study showed that overreactive parenting is independently and significantly associated with an increased risk of adolescent GD, suggesting the importance of psychological support for parents.