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Problematic vs. Responsible IT Use

Our research explores the mental health impacts of excessive technology use, including gaming disorder and social media addiction. We identify effective strategies that promote responsible digital use, supporting mental wellness and daily functioning. These insights inform the development of evidence-based guidelines and interventions that encourage healthier, more balanced interactions with technology.

Selected Relevant Publications

  • Cheng, C., Li, S., & Chen, S. (2024). Evaluation of a multicomponent positive psychology program to prevent gaming disorder and enhance mental wellness in primary pupils: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 13(3), 871-883. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2024.00052

  • Cheng, C., & Ebrahimi, O. V. (2023). A meta-analytic review of gamified interventions in mental health enhancement. Computers in Human Behavior, 141, 107621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107621

  • Cheng, C., Ebrahimi, O. V., & Luk, J. W. (2022). Heterogeneity of prevalence of social media addiction across multiple classification schemes: Latent profile analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(1), e27000. https://doi.org/10.2196/27000

  • Cheng, C. (2022). Time-series associations between public interest in COVID-19 variants and national vaccination rate: A Google Trends analysis. Behavioral Sciences, 12(7), 223. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12070223

  • Cheng, C., Lau, Y., Chan, L., & Luk, J. W. (2021). Prevalence of social media addiction across 32 nations: Meta-analysis with subgroup analysis of classification schemes and cultural values. Addictive Behaviors, 117, 106845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106845

  • Cheng, C., Chan, L., & Chau, C.-l. (2020). Individual differences in susceptibility to cybercrime victimization and its psychological aftermath. Computers in Human Behavior, 108, 106311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106311

  • Cheng, C., Lau, Y., & Luk, J. W. (2020). Social capital–accrual, escape-from-self, and time-displacement effects of internet use during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period: Prospective, quantitative survey study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(12), e22740. https://doi.org/10.2196/22740

  • Cheng, C., Wang, H., Sigerson, L., & Chau, C. (2019). Do socially rich get richer? A nuanced perspective on social network site use and online social capital accrual. Psychological Bulletin, 145(7), 734-764. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000198

  • Cheng, C., Cheung, M. W. L., & Wang, H. y. (2018). Multinational comparison of Internet gaming disorder and psychosocial problems versus well-being: Meta-analysis of 20 countries. Computers in Human Behavior, 88, 153-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.06.033

  • Cheng, C., & Li, A. Y. L. (2014). Internet addiction prevalence and quality of (real) life: A meta-Analysis of 31 nations across seven world regions. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17(12), 755-760. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0317

  • Lam, Y., & Cheng, C. (2022). Parental depression and leisure activity engagement on children’s gaming disorder: A dyadic study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(10), 5880. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19105880

  • Li, A. Y., Lo, B. C. Y., & Cheng, C. (2018). It is the family context that matters: Concurrent and predictive effects of aspects of parent-child interaction on video gaming-related problems. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 21(6), 374-380. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2017.0566

  • Sigerson, L., & Cheng, C. (2018). Scales for measuring user engagement with social network sites: A systematic review of psychometric properties. Computers in Human Behavior, 83, 87-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.01.023

  • Sigerson, L., Li, A. Y. L., Cheung, M. W. L., & Cheng, C. (2017). Examining common information technology addictions and their relationships with non-technology-related addictions. Computers in Human Behavior, 75, 520-526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.05.041

  • Wang, H.-Y., & Cheng, C. (2021). New perspectives on the prevalence and associated factors of gaming disorder in Hong Kong community adults: A generational approach. Computers in Human Behavior, 114, 106574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106574

  • Wang, H.-Y., & Cheng, C. (2022). The associations between gaming motivation and internet gaming disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis. JMIR Mental Health, 9(2), e23700. https://doi.org/10.2196/23700

  • Wang, H.-Y., Sigerson, L., & Cheng, C. (2019). Digital nativity and information technology addiction: Age cohort versus individual difference approaches. Computers in Human Behavior, 90, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.08.031

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