Associations between relative deprivation and problematic gaming in adolescence: evidence from an Italian representative sample

Tommaso Galeotti; Michela Lenzi; Frank J. Elgar; Claudia Marino; Natale Canale; Marta Gaboardi; Gonneke W.J.M. Stevens; Hilde Brons; Silvia Ciardullo; Giacomo Lazzeri; Alessio Vieno

doi:10.1136/jech-2025-224805

Associations between relative deprivation and problematic gaming in adolescence: evidence from an Italian representative sample

Tommaso Galeotti^*
, Michela Lenzi
, Frank J. Elgar
, Claudia Marino
, Natale Canale
, Marta Gaboardi
, Gonneke W.J.M. Stevens
, Hilde Brons
, Silvia Ciardullo
, Giacomo Lazzeri
, Alessio Vieno

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BackgroundProblematic gaming is a known risk factor for adolescent well-being. Yet, socioeconomic factors that might contribute to problematic gaming in adolescence have not been fully explored. This study examined the association between relative deprivation, defined as an individual’s financial gap relative to their classmates, and problematic gaming in a representative sample of Italian adolescents.MethodsWe analysed data on family material assets and self-reported symptoms of problematic gaming from 58 881 participants in the 2021/2022 Italian Health Behaviour in school-aged children study. Relative deprivation was measured using the Yitzhaki index, with classmates as a social reference group. Associations with problematic gaming were tested using a two-level multiple logistic regression model while accounting for the effects of economic, sociodemographic and psychological factors.ResultsAdolescents reporting higher relative deprivation were eight times more likely to be classified as problematic gamers compared with their better-off peers, after controlling for individual and class-level deprivation, and self-efficacy beliefs. Males, younger adolescents and adolescents with lower self-efficacy were more at risk of being problematic gamers.ConclusionThe current study expands the existing literature on the detrimental impact of inequalities on adolescent behaviours by highlighting the association between relative deprivation and problematic gaming. Policymakers are advised to implement measures to reduce inequalities and mitigate maladaptive gaming patterns among adolescents.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	209-214
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Volume	80
Issue number	4
Early online date	10 Mar 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2025-224805
Publication status	Published - Apr 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

Keywords

adolescent
behavior, addictive
health behavior
public health

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10.1136/jech-2025-224805Licence: CC BY-NC

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Galeotti, T., Lenzi, M., Elgar, F. J., Marino, C., Canale, N., Gaboardi, M., Stevens, G. W. J. M., Brons, H., Ciardullo, S., Lazzeri, G., & Vieno, A. (2026). Associations between relative deprivation and problematic gaming in adolescence: evidence from an Italian representative sample. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 80(4), 209-214. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2025-224805

@article{103cf24f9d8446db95d8cc5071059ccd,

title = "Associations between relative deprivation and problematic gaming in adolescence: evidence from an Italian representative sample",

abstract = "BackgroundProblematic gaming is a known risk factor for adolescent well-being. Yet, socioeconomic factors that might contribute to problematic gaming in adolescence have not been fully explored. This study examined the association between relative deprivation, defined as an individual{\textquoteright}s financial gap relative to their classmates, and problematic gaming in a representative sample of Italian adolescents.MethodsWe analysed data on family material assets and self-reported symptoms of problematic gaming from 58 881 participants in the 2021/2022 Italian Health Behaviour in school-aged children study. Relative deprivation was measured using the Yitzhaki index, with classmates as a social reference group. Associations with problematic gaming were tested using a two-level multiple logistic regression model while accounting for the effects of economic, sociodemographic and psychological factors.ResultsAdolescents reporting higher relative deprivation were eight times more likely to be classified as problematic gamers compared with their better-off peers, after controlling for individual and class-level deprivation, and self-efficacy beliefs. Males, younger adolescents and adolescents with lower self-efficacy were more at risk of being problematic gamers.ConclusionThe current study expands the existing literature on the detrimental impact of inequalities on adolescent behaviours by highlighting the association between relative deprivation and problematic gaming. Policymakers are advised to implement measures to reduce inequalities and mitigate maladaptive gaming patterns among adolescents.",

keywords = "adolescent, behavior, addictive, health behavior, public health",

author = "Tommaso Galeotti and Michela Lenzi and Elgar, \{Frank J.\} and Claudia Marino and Natale Canale and Marta Gaboardi and Stevens, \{Gonneke W.J.M.\} and Hilde Brons and Silvia Ciardullo and Giacomo Lazzeri and Alessio Vieno",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.",

year = "2026",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1136/jech-2025-224805",

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Galeotti, T, Lenzi, M, Elgar, FJ, Marino, C, Canale, N, Gaboardi, M, Stevens, GWJM, Brons, H, Ciardullo, S, Lazzeri, G & Vieno, A 2026, 'Associations between relative deprivation and problematic gaming in adolescence: evidence from an Italian representative sample', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, vol. 80, no. 4, pp. 209-214. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2025-224805

TY - JOUR

T1 - Associations between relative deprivation and problematic gaming in adolescence

T2 - evidence from an Italian representative sample

AU - Galeotti, Tommaso

AU - Lenzi, Michela

AU - Elgar, Frank J.

AU - Marino, Claudia

AU - Canale, Natale

AU - Gaboardi, Marta

AU - Stevens, Gonneke W.J.M.

AU - Brons, Hilde

AU - Ciardullo, Silvia

AU - Lazzeri, Giacomo

AU - Vieno, Alessio

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

PY - 2026/4

Y1 - 2026/4

N2 - BackgroundProblematic gaming is a known risk factor for adolescent well-being. Yet, socioeconomic factors that might contribute to problematic gaming in adolescence have not been fully explored. This study examined the association between relative deprivation, defined as an individual’s financial gap relative to their classmates, and problematic gaming in a representative sample of Italian adolescents.MethodsWe analysed data on family material assets and self-reported symptoms of problematic gaming from 58 881 participants in the 2021/2022 Italian Health Behaviour in school-aged children study. Relative deprivation was measured using the Yitzhaki index, with classmates as a social reference group. Associations with problematic gaming were tested using a two-level multiple logistic regression model while accounting for the effects of economic, sociodemographic and psychological factors.ResultsAdolescents reporting higher relative deprivation were eight times more likely to be classified as problematic gamers compared with their better-off peers, after controlling for individual and class-level deprivation, and self-efficacy beliefs. Males, younger adolescents and adolescents with lower self-efficacy were more at risk of being problematic gamers.ConclusionThe current study expands the existing literature on the detrimental impact of inequalities on adolescent behaviours by highlighting the association between relative deprivation and problematic gaming. Policymakers are advised to implement measures to reduce inequalities and mitigate maladaptive gaming patterns among adolescents.

AB - BackgroundProblematic gaming is a known risk factor for adolescent well-being. Yet, socioeconomic factors that might contribute to problematic gaming in adolescence have not been fully explored. This study examined the association between relative deprivation, defined as an individual’s financial gap relative to their classmates, and problematic gaming in a representative sample of Italian adolescents.MethodsWe analysed data on family material assets and self-reported symptoms of problematic gaming from 58 881 participants in the 2021/2022 Italian Health Behaviour in school-aged children study. Relative deprivation was measured using the Yitzhaki index, with classmates as a social reference group. Associations with problematic gaming were tested using a two-level multiple logistic regression model while accounting for the effects of economic, sociodemographic and psychological factors.ResultsAdolescents reporting higher relative deprivation were eight times more likely to be classified as problematic gamers compared with their better-off peers, after controlling for individual and class-level deprivation, and self-efficacy beliefs. Males, younger adolescents and adolescents with lower self-efficacy were more at risk of being problematic gamers.ConclusionThe current study expands the existing literature on the detrimental impact of inequalities on adolescent behaviours by highlighting the association between relative deprivation and problematic gaming. Policymakers are advised to implement measures to reduce inequalities and mitigate maladaptive gaming patterns among adolescents.

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KW - behavior, addictive

KW - health behavior

KW - public health

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DO - 10.1136/jech-2025-224805

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SN - 0143-005X

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JO - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

JF - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

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ER -

Associations between relative deprivation and problematic gaming in adolescence: evidence from an Italian representative sample

Abstract

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