Does Video Game Use Exacerbate the Relation Between Neurophysiological Deficits and ADHD

147 Pages·2017·1.52 MB·English

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Dissertations
Fall 12-2014
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James Kenneth Goodlad III
University of Southern Mississippi
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Goodlad, James Kenneth III, "Does Video Game Use Exacerbate the Relation Between Neurophysiological
Deficits and ADHD Symptoms in Children and Adolescents?" (2014). Dissertations. 765.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/765
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The University of Southern Mississippi

DOES VIDEO GAME USE EXACERBATE THE RELATION BETWEEN
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DEFICITS AND ADHD SYMPTOMS
IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS?

by

James Kenneth Goodlad III

Abstract of a Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate School
of The University of Southern Mississippi
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

December 2014
ABSTRACT
DOES VIDEO GAME USE EXACERBATE THE RELATION BETWEEN
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DEFICITS AND ADHD SYMPTOMS
IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS?
by James Kenneth Goodlad III
December 2014
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is diagnosed based on
behavioral symptoms but is thought to have a significant heritable neurological basis, and
several brain structures have been implicated. Recent research has focused on the role of
environmental factors that may influence the behavioral expression of inattention and
hyperactivity-impulsivity in children and teens, particularly when a biological
predisposition exists. This study sought to broaden the literature base by examining the
extent to which one environmental factor—video game use—moderated the relation
between neuropsychological deficits in attention and inhibition and the behavioral
symptoms of ADHD. It was hypothesized that gaming frequency and duration as well as
deficits in neuropsychological functioning would relate positively to ADHD symptoms.
Twenty-five participants (age 10 to 17 years) recruited from the community were
administered four neuropsychological tests of attention and behavioral disinhibition and
reported on gaming habits while parents completed measures of ADHD symptoms and
also reported on the child’s video gaming habits. Moderated multiple regression analyses
were used to examine the moderating effects of gaming frequency and gaming duration
on the association between neuropsychological deficits and ADHD symptom domains
beyond control variables (i.e., age, gender, race/ethnicity, family income, IQ). Gaming
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duration was significantly related to symptoms of inattention. Neuropsychological
deficits were not significantly related to symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-
impulsivity. However, the interaction of gaming frequency and sustained attention
deficits predicted significant variability in inattention, and the interaction of gaming
frequency and set shifting deficits significantly predicted symptoms of hyperactivity-
impulsivity. These findings underscore the importance of continued research on
environmental factors, such as video game use, that may exacerbate a biological
predisposition for ADHD symptoms in children.

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COPYRIGHT BY
JAMES KENNETH GOODLAD III
2014
The University of Southern Mississippi

DOES VIDEO GAME USE EXACERBATE THE RELATION BETWEEN
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DEFICITS AND ADHD SYMPTOMS
IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS?

by

James Kenneth Goodlad III

A Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate School
of The University of Southern Mississippi
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Approved:

Dr. Tammy Barry _____________________
Committee Chair

Dr. Christopher Barry__________________

Dr. Sara Jordan_______________________

Dr. Natalie Williams___________________

Dr. Karen Coats______________________
Dean of the Graduate School
December 2014
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank the dissertation chair, Dr. Tammy Barry, for her tremendous
effort in the assistance of not only this project but in all aspects of my graduate training
and professional development. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr.
Christopher Barry, Dr. Sara Jordan, and Dr. Natalie Williams, for their insight, guidance,
encouragement, and willingness to serve on my dissertation committee. I would also like
to thank my fantastic team of research assistants, Karin Fisher, Joshua Polk, Rachael
Fournet, Robyn Riley, and Brandi Ellis, who helped organize the project, contact
families, and collect data in my absence, and without whom this project would not have
been possible. Special thanks go to the children and families who offered their time for
participation.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................ii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..................................................................................................vi

LIST OF TABLES...........................................................................................................viii

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS...............................................................................................x

CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION AND REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE…........1

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Barkley’s Model of ADHD
Neuropsychological Deficits and ADHD
ADHD: A Complicated Etiology
Video Games and ADHD
Are All Video Games Bad for Attention Skills?

II. METHOD....................................................................................................42

Participants
Measures
Procedure

III. RESULTS....................................................................................................56

Composite Score Creation
Descriptive Statistics
Preliminary Correlations
Hypothesis Testing

IV. DISCUSSION.............................................................................................85

Goal of Current Study
Limitations of the Current Study
Future Directions of Study
Conclusions

APPENDIXES.................................................................................................................101

REFERENCES................................................................................................................117
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LIST OF TABLES
Table

1. Sample Characteristics...........................................................................................44

2. Descriptive Data for Variables of Interest.............................................................61

3. Zero-Order Correlations Among Variables of Interest..........................................62

4. Zero-Order Correlations Between Variables of Interest and Demographic
Variables................................................................................................................64

5. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Sustained Attention
Deficits by Gaming Frequency Predicting Inattentive Symptoms........................69

6. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Sustained Attention
Deficits by Gaming Duration Predicting Inattentive Symptoms...........................69

7. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Sustained Attention
Deficits by Gaming Frequency Predicting Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms.....70

8. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Sustained Attention
Deficits by Gaming Duration Predicting Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms.......70

9. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Selective Attention
Deficits by Gaming Frequency Predicting Inattentive Symptoms........................72

10. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Selective Attention
Deficits by Duration of Video Game Play Predicting Inattentive Symptoms.......73

11. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Selective Attention
Deficits by Gaming Frequency Predicting Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms.....73

12. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Selective Attention
Deficits by Gaming Duration Predicting Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms.......74

13. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Set Shifting Deficits by
Gaming Frequency Predicting Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms.......................75

14. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Set Shifting Deficits by
Gaming Duration Predicting Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms..........................75

15. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Behavioral Disinhibition
by Gaming Frequency Predicting Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms..................77
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16. Results of Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis of Behavioral Disinhibition
by Gaming Duration Predicting Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms.....................78

17. Zero-Order Correlations Among Medium of Gaming and Demographic
Variables................................................................................................................80

18. Zero-Order Correlations Among Medium of Gaming and Variables of Interest..80

19. Zero-Order Correlations Among Gaming Genre and Demographic Variables.....83

20. Zero-Order Correlations Among Gaming Genre and Variables of Interest..........84
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