Global Prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analytic Evidence and Implications for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Internet gaming has become a widespread global activity, raising concerns about the prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). However, existing meta-analyses report highly variable prevalence estimates. This umbrella review aims to clarify the prevalence and variability of IGD by synthesizing evidence from meta-analyses to provide a comprehensive overview of IGD prevalence across populations, age groups, and regions. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, systematic searches were carried out across five published literature databases and two supplementary search sources. Title and abstract screening, followed by full-text eligibility assessment, were conducted independently by three authors. The same three authors then performed data extraction and quality assessment for the nine included meta-analyses. RESULTS: After screening, nine eligible meta-analyses were included. The overall median prevalence of IGD was 6.20%, with an interquartile range of 4.25% to 8.30%. Subgroup analyses indicated a higher prevalence among males compared to females. Evidence for age differences between adolescents and adults was limited and should be interpreted cautiously because age groups were inconsistently defined across meta-analyses. Regional comparisons suggested higher prevalence estimates in Asia than in Europe, and gamer profile comparisons suggested higher prevalence estimates in gamers than in the general population, although evidence for these differences was limited and not consistent across meta-analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the findings indicate that IGD affects a sizeable proportion of the population, but prevalence estimates vary depending on demographic and regional characteristics. Greater consistency in diagnostic criteria, assessment tools, and reporting standards is needed to improve the comparability and interpretability of IGD prevalence research.