BOSTON, April 24, 2026 – A new Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia study examines the relationship between parenting factors and gaming disorder in young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Findings from the study will be presented during the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2026 Meeting , taking place April 24-27 in Boston.
More than 80% of American children play video games, and evidence is accumulating that a substantial proportion engage in problematic gaming. Moreover, children with ADHD are at risk for problematic video game use. This study found that risk factors for problematic gaming include negative parenting behaviors, male sex and older age. Negative parenting behaviors are modifiable with parenting training programs. The relationship between gaming and parenting may also be bidirectional, with problematic gaming contributing to negative parenting. Parental involvement in gaming, increased access to consoles, and increased household limits on gaming were not associated with gaming disorder.
“We found that negative parenting behaviors (such as arguing, punishing and losing temper) are significantly associated with children meeting criteria for gaming addiction,” said Emily Wassmer, MD, fellow physician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and lead author of the study. “We can't determine a causal association from this data, but it is likely that the relationship is bidirectional, as parenting behaviors mediate child behaviors. Parenting behaviors are modifiable with evidence-based parent training programs, so programs like these may be beneficial for caregivers of gamers whose gaming has reached problematic levels. These findings are one piece part of a larger study evaluating risk factors for video game addiction in young children (age 5-12) with ADHD, a population at risk for addiction because of their ADHD diagnosis, though under-represented in gaming addiction research which tends to focus on adolescents.”
Recognizing the impact of video games on mental health, criteria for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) were proposed in the DSM-5. These criteria have rarely been applied to clinical populations. There is limited research on video game use in children with ADHD, a group vulnerable to developing addictive behaviors. Existing research has focused on individual-level factors related to problematic gaming, and there has been minimal focus on parental factors, which may be helpful in identifying targets for behavioral interventions.
Additional information is included in the below research abstract. The PAS Meeting connects thousands of leading pediatric researchers, clinicians and educators worldwide. View the full schedule in the PAS 2026 program guide . For more information about the PAS Meeting, please visit www.pas-meeting.org .
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Abstract: Relationship Between Parenting Factors and Gaming Disorder in Young Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Presenting Author
Emily Wassmer, MD, Fellow Physician, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Organization
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Topic
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics: Parenting
Background
More than 80% of American children play video games, and evidence is accumulating that a substantial proportion engage in problematic gaming. Recognizing the impact of video games on mental health, criteria for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) were proposed in the DSM-5. These criteria have rarely been applied to clinical populations. There is limited research on video game use in children with ADHD, a group vulnerable to developing addictive behaviors. Existing research has focused on individual-level factors related to problematic gaming, and there has been minimal focus on parental factors, which may be helpful in identifying targets for behavioral interventions.
Objective
Examine the extent to which limits on gaming, parental discipline style, parents gaming with children, and console access are associated with problematic video game use in children with ADHD.
Design/Methods
IGD criteria were adapted into survey questions refined through feedback from community stakeholders, including caregivers and youth. This screener and other validated tools – Adult Involvement in Media Scale & Parent Child Relationship Questionnaire – were administered electronically to caregivers of children age 5-12 with ADHD who play video games. Exclusion criteria included autism and intellectual disability.
A total of 304 participants were enrolled. Covariates included age, sex, caregiver level of education, ADHD medication status, frequency of medication use, and medication type. Predictor variables included parental involvement in gaming, console access, limits on gaming, positive parenting behaviors, and negative parenting behaviors. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations with screening positive for IGD.
Results
In univariate analyses, age, male sex, and negative parenting were associated with screening positive for gaming disorder. These associations persisted in the multivariable model (age OR 1.20, p=0.013; male sex OR 2.35, p=0.007; negative parenting OR 2.87, p< 0.001), with negative parenting behaviors demonstrating the strongest relationship.
Conclusion(s)
Children with ADHD are at risk for problematic video game use. Risk factors for problematic gaming include negative parenting behaviors, male sex, and older age. Negative parenting behaviors are modifiable with parenting training programs. The relationship between gaming and parenting may also be bidirectional, with problematic gaming contributing to negative parenting. Parental involvement in gaming, increased access to consoles, and increased household limits on gaming were not associated with gaming disorder.
Co-Authors
Alex Holdaway, PhD, Psychologist, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Rachel Sanderlin, Data Scientist, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Alexis Z. Tomlinson, PhD, Biostatistician, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Thomas Power, PhD, Professor, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Tables and Images
Demographics
1n (%); Median (Q1, Q3) 50 subjects were excluded from the cohort, due to having no responses to the Vanderbilt measure. Gender and Assigned Sex were almost identical; 5 cases who were assigned female at birth noted gender as male (2), non-binary (1), or did not respond to the question (2). In Relationship to Child, other contained 1 adoptive father, and 1 grandmother, the rest were unknown. In `Race`, the `Unknown or Other` contained 1 American Indian or Alaska Native subject, 1 Asian and Hispanic subject, 1 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander subject, 1 Middle Eastern or North African subject, and 2 subjects of whom their race was unknown. IEP refers to an Individualized Education Plan, which offers specialized educational instruction and services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the United States and ensures special education and related services to those children. 504 refers to a 504 Plan, which provides school-based accommodations for children with physical or mental challenges. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.
Univariable Logistic Regression Results by Internet Gaming Disorder Status
1OR = Odds Ratio, CI = Confidence Interval 2Median (Q1, Q3); n (%)
Multivariable Model
1OR = Odds Ratio, CI = Confidence Interval, VIF = Variance Inflation Factor