@article{ref1,
title="Stress system response and decision making in heavy episodic users of alcohol and online video games",
journal="Substance use and misuse",
year="2019",
author="Gilbertson, Rebecca J. and Leff, Dustyn J. and Young, Nathan A.",
volume="54",
number="11",
pages="1875-1885",
abstract="<i>Objective:</i> Few empirical studies have addressed stress system response and subsequent decision making in problematic online video game players who also consume alcohol. <i>Method:</i> Participants were randomly assigned to either receive a psychosocial stressor, including evaluated public speaking and mental arithmetic, or control condition. Salivary cortisol, cardiovascular and subjective responses were collected. Following, decision making was assessed using the Iowa Gambling Task. <i>Results:</i> In this sample of moderate internet gamers (<i>N</i> = 71; 45 male, 16.9% meeting suggested DSM-5 criteria for internet gaming disorder), 53.52% met gender-specific cut-points for heavy episodic drinking. Overall, participants in the TSST condition demonstrated elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, self-reported anxiety, and negative affect (<i>p</i>s <.05). However, response to the TSST was varied, particularly in individuals reporting binge internet gaming (6 h or more consecutive use in the last 30 d) who did not display the expected decline in positive affect in response to the TSST (<i>p</i> = .02). Differences in greater advantageous decision making between heavy episodic internet gaming participants in the stress condition, versus those reading a travel magazine, were also noted. These differences were not significant in participants reporting an absence of heavy episodic gaming behavior. <i>Conclusions:</i> These findings support the continued study of individuals who engage in problematic internet gaming behavior, particularly those who engage in heavy episodic use of alcohol.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1082-6084",
doi="10.1080/10826084.2019.1618333",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2019.1618333"
}