This study aims to test the longitudinal association between parental IGD and adolescent IGD, after controlling for covariates at personal, interpersonal and familial levels and the mediation effects of parenting on the intergenerational transmission.

This study is a two-year 3-wave longitudinal study. Students and parents will complete questionnaires at Time1, Time2, and Time3.

Introduction Adolescent Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) causes severe physical, psychological, and social harms. Family and parents play critical roles in adolescent IGD. Based on the socially-based intergenerational transmission theories, parental IGD may increase the risk of adolescent IGD directly and indirectly.

Objectives The primary objective is to test the longitudinal association between parental IGD and adolescent IGD, after controlling for covariates at personal, interpersonal and familial levels

Subjects and methods This study is a two-year 3-wave longitudinal study. Adolescents will be recruited from Secondary schools using stratified random sampling method. One parent of each adolescent will be invited. Students will finish a set of validated psychological scales in class-room settings, while parents will finish their questionnaires through telephone interviews at Time1, Time2, and Time3.

Outcomes and measures The primary outcome is adolescent IGD symptoms based on DSM-5 IGD symptoms checklist. The secondary outcomes include time spent on Internet-related activities including gaming and gaming attitudes of adolescents.

Data analysis Univariate and multivariate linear/logistic regression analyses will be conducted to test the associations between parental factors (including parental IGD, parental modeling, and parenting practices) and adolescent IGD.

Implications This study will clarify the level of adolescent IGD in Hong Kong to inform policy and planning. It delineates mechanisms concerning intergenerational transmission of adolescent IGD, and shed light on the development of timely and innovative prevention programs based on a family approach and evidence-informed parental training.

Inclusion Criteria (adolescent sample):

• Secondary 1-3 students (grade 7-9)
• willingness to finish the study
• Chinese speaking
• living with parent(s)

Inclusion Criteria (parent sample):

• Father or mother of participating child
• living with the participating child
• willingness to finish the study
• Chinese speaking

Exclusion Criteria (adolescent sample):

• receiving treatment for mental disorders
• intellectually disabled

Exclusion Criteria (parent sample):

• lack of competence in the Chinese language
• receiving treatment for mental disorders

Secondary 1-3 students (grade 7-9) will be recruited from secondary schools using stratified random sampling method. One parent of each student will be invited.