Factors Associated with Internet Gaming Disorder Symptoms of Adolescents: Foundation in Developing and Implementing a Behavior Modification Therapy

Excessive Virtual Gaming (EVG) afflicted the adolescents in the Philippines that they found it hard to control their behavior anymore. There were research that studied the causes of this behavior but the intervention program that would modify the extreme gaming habit of the Filipino high school students was still scarce. This study aimed to develop and implement a Behavior Modification Therapy (BMT) program that would reduce the frequency and intensity of the virtual gaming and modify the Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) symptoms. Mixed methods through sequential explanatory were employed in this study. The IGD factors were correlated to IGD symptoms through the Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (r). The qualitative data were collected through Thematic Analysis Method on the Related Literatures and Studies (RLS); the IGD experiences were processed through the Focus Group Discussions (FGD); and the analysis of the training needs (TN) were analyzed. The data were used as bases in developing the BMT. The Behavior Modification Therapy program was helpful to the participants, and efficacious in reducing the IGD symptoms.