Sevtap Gurdal, University West
sevtap.gurdal@hv.se
When it becomes a diagnosis – a study of professionals’ work after Internet Gaming Disorder, IGD, becomes a diagnosis
Today various professionals’ work involves diagnosing children and youth. This affects children and youth in different ways, among them, their performance in school. A new diagnosis can be both positive and negative. Those who support a diagnosis claim that without one, it is difficult to help people with problems or do research. But a negative aspect can be that people who receive a diagnosis can be stigmatised and suffer from lower self- esteem.
In 2018, the World Health Organisation put out a statement clarifying that too much gaming would now be classified as Internet Gaming Disorder. 87 % of Swedish children aged 9-12 play different games on the Internet or in other settings every day. Excessive gaming has long been discussed and can be seen as a problem in itself or as a problem related to
something else. There is not much research into gaming disorder and with this new diagnosis more knowledge is required.
The purpose of this study is to interview different professional groups who work with children and youths: student health professionals (e.g. school nurses), social services (e.g.
family support) and child psychiatry. The aim is to gain more knowledge about how these professionals’ work changes when a new diagnosis is classified. What do they learn and how
do they collaborate? Another aim is to study which approach they take in regard to children’s agency after a new diagnosis.
