Study title

Interviews of Actively Gaming Adults in Finland: 1st Year 2022-2024

Dataset ID Number

FSD4126

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD4126
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd4126

Data Type

Qualitative

Authors

• Karhulahti, Veli-Matti (University of Jyväskylä)
• Saariniemi, Sara (University of Jyväskylä)
• Akkoç, Ahmed (Tekilabo)
• Auranen, Tiina (University of Jyväskylä)
• Hietanen, Riina (University of Jyväskylä)
• Holopainen, Roope (HUS Helsinki University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland)
• Kauraoja, Valtteri (University of Jyväskylä)
• Koponen, Minttu (University of Jyväskylä)
• Laitinen, Tanja (University of Jyväskylä)
• Laukkanen, Virpi (University of Eastern Finland, The Wellbeing Services County of North Savo)
• Lukka, Lauri (Aalto University)
• Lund, Mie
• Lundedal Hammar, Lasse (University of Copenhagen)
• Mankinen, Katja
• Munukka, Pauliina (University of Jyväskylä)
• Nerg, Henri (University of Jyväskylä)
• Niemi, Katja (HUS Helsinki University Hospital)
• Nielsen, Rune (IT University of Copenhagen)
• Puoskari, Sanni (University of Jyväskylä)
• Siidoroff, Aleksi (University of Jyväskylä)
• Siutila, Miia (University of Jyväskylä)
• Turtiainen, Emilia (University of Jyväskylä)
• Valtonen, Venla (University of Jyväskylä)

Abstract

This dataset contains the first round of interviews with adults conducted in Finland as part of a three-year longitudinal study. The interviewees belong to one of two groups: gamers who sought clinical treatment for their gaming, or gamers who played actively (at least 4 hours a day, including competitive gaming) on a daily basis without any clinical problems.

There were two types of interviews: a gaming-related interview and a clinical interview. With one exception, both interviews were conducted with every participant. One participant withdrew from the study before the clinical interview. Clinical experts conducted the clinical interviews.

Background information included, among other things, the interviewee's age and gender. The data set includes both the Finnish-language interview transcripts and their English translations.

Keywords

addiction; digital games; friends; hobbies; leisure time activities; social interaction

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Time use (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Leisure, tourism and sport (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Relationship Between Health and Gaming in Human Life Course: International and Longitudinal ORE Study

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (D) available only by permission from the data depositor/creator.

Data Collector

• Karhulahti, Veli-Matti (University of Jyväskylä)
• Lukka, Lauri (Aalto yliopisto)
• Auranen, Tiina (University of Jyväskylä)
• Holopainen, Roope (HUS Helsinki University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland)
• Kauraoja, Valtteri (University of Jyväskylä)
• Laukkanen, Virpi (University of Eastern Finland, The Wellbeing Services County of North Savo)
• Lund, Mie
• Mankinen, Katja
• Niemi, Katja (HUS Helsinki University Hospital)
• Nielsen, Rune (IT University of Copenhagen)
• Siutila, Miia (University of Jyväskylä)

Funders

• European Research Council (101042052)

Collection Dates

2022-10-01 – 2024-10-01

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Adults seeking clinical treatment due to their gaming, and adults playing actively (4+ hours including competitive play) daily without experiencing clinical problems.

Time Method

Longitudinal

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Purposive

Collection Mode

Face-to-face interview

Web-based interview (Some of the interviews were conducted via Zoom and some were face-to-face.)

Research Instrument

Semi-structured questionnaire

Data Files

39 interviews in Finnish in ODT format, as well as English translations of the Finnish interviews. Two participants were from abroad, and their interviews are available only in English. In addition, both language versions of the data have been converted into a browsable HTML version and a tabular CSV version.

Data File Language

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish and English.

Qualitative data are available in their original language only and are not translated.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The research group has anonymised the data before archiving it. For example, names and locations have been removed from the data. In addition, other identifying information, such as descriptions of specific groups, has been removed or modified as necessary.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Karhulahti, Veli-Matti (University of Jyväskylä) & Saariniemi, Sara (University of Jyväskylä) & Akkoç, Ahmed (Tekilabo) & Auranen, Tiina (University of Jyväskylä) & Hietanen, Riina (University of Jyväskylä) & Holopainen, Roope (HUS Helsinki University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland) & Kauraoja, Valtteri (University of Jyväskylä) & Koponen, Minttu (University of Jyväskylä) & Laitinen, Tanja (University of Jyväskylä) & Laukkanen, Virpi (University of Eastern Finland, The Wellbeing Services County of North Savo) & Lukka, Lauri (Aalto University) & Lund, Mie & Lundedal Hammar, Lasse (University of Copenhagen) & Mankinen, Katja & Munukka, Pauliina (University of Jyväskylä) & Nerg, Henri (University of Jyväskylä) & Niemi, Katja (HUS Helsinki University Hospital) & Nielsen, Rune (IT University of Copenhagen) & Puoskari, Sanni (University of Jyväskylä) & Siidoroff, Aleksi (University of Jyväskylä) & Siutila, Miia (University of Jyväskylä) & Turtiainen, Emilia (University of Jyväskylä) & Valtonen, Venla (University of Jyväskylä): Interviews of Actively Gaming Adults in Finland: 1st Year 2022-2024 [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2026-10-14). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd4126; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD4126

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Publications

Auranen, T., Holopainen, R., & Karhulahti, V.-M. (2026). Adolescent anxiety and gaming: a case study of stability loops. Swiss psychology open. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/tczsv_v1

Jin, Y., Adamkovic, M., Martončik, M., & Karhulahti, V. M. (in press). Natural Recovery and Gaming Disorder: A Case Series. Royal Society Open Science.

Karhulahti, V. M., & Auranen, T. (2025). Systematic error in gaming disorder measures. The British journal of psychiatry: the journal of mental science, 228(2), 169.