Vivien Wen Li Anthony

Vivien (Wen Li) Anthony is an associate professor at School of Social Work and the Scientific Director of the Center for Gambling Studies. Dr. Anthony’s research centers on addictions, with a focus on gaming disorder, problem Internet use, Internet gambling, and other problematic behaviors related to technology use. Specifically, her research explores the etiology and risk mechanisms of problem Internet and video game use, develops and validates measures for these problems, and develops and evaluates interventions that can ameliorate these problems among adolescents and young adults. 

Her research interest stems from her practice and research experience with youth and young adults in China and the U.S. Her past and current studies have examined characteristics of problematic Internet use and video gaming behaviors among Chinese and U.S. young adults. She has also adapted and pilot tested mindfulness-based intervention and cognitive-behavioral-based intervention for these problems among youth and young adults. She currently studies an emerging area - the convergence of video gaming and gambling and the implications of such convergence.

Courses Taught: 

Intervention Research

Human Behavior and the Social Environment

Methods of Social Work Research I & II

Anthony, W. L., Mills, D., Stanmyre, J., & Nower, L. (2023). Mindfulness profiles among video game players: Exploring differences in gaming behaviors, motivations, and mental health. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000904

Anthony, W. L., Mills, D., & Nower, L. (2022). Measurement instruments for Internet gaming disorder: A systematic review using the COSMIN methodology. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/cps0000123

Anthony, W. L. (2022). Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcome of a cognitivebehavioral group intervention for problematic Internet use via smartphones in Chinese university students. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 36(2), 112-128. https://doi.org/10.1891/JCPSY-D-21-00001

Nower, L., Anthony, W. L., Stanmyre, J. F., Behan, D. (2022). Gambling knowledge and experience among clinical social worker. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. Published online first. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533256X.2022.2059849

Nower, L., Blaszczynsk, A., & Anthony, W. L. (2022). Clarifying gambling sub-types: Revising the pathways model of problem gambling. Addiction, 117(2), 2000-2008. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15745

Anthony, W. L., Zhu, Y., & Nower, L. (2021). The relationship of interactive technology use for entertainment and school performance and engagement: Evidence from a longitudinal study in a nationally representative sample of middle school students in China. Computers in Human Behavior. Publish online first. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106846 

Li, W., O’Brien, J. E., Zhu, Y., & Chen, Q. (2021). A path analysis investigating the relations between family violence, addictive behaviors, and trauma among adolescents in China. Journal of Family Violence. Publish online first. doi:10.1007/s10896-020-00179-9

Li, W., Mill, D., & Nower, L. (2020). Validation of the Problematic Social Casino Gaming Scale. International Gambling Studies. Publish online first. doi:10.1080/14459795.2020.1777577

Nower, L., Mills, D., & Anthony, W. L. V. (2020). Gambling disorder: The first behavioral addiction. In A. L. Begun & M. M. Murray The Routledge Handbook of Social Work and Addictive Behaviors. New York: Routledge. 

Anthony, W. L. V., Mills, D., & Nower, L. (2020). Internet Gaming Disorder and problematic technology use. In A. L. Begun & M. M. Murray The Routledge Handbook of Social Work and Addictive Behaviors. New York: Routledge. 

O’Brien, J. E., & Li, W. (2020). The role of the Internet in the grooming, exploitation, and exit of United States domestic minor sex trafficking victims. Journal of Children and Media, 14(2), 187-203. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2019.1688668

Mill, D., Anthony, W. L., & Nower, L. (2020) Global motivations, basic psychological needs, and problem gambling: Applying the framework of self-determination theory. Addiction Research and Therapy. Publish online first. doi:10.1080/16066359.2020.1787389

Li, W., Mill, D., Nower, L. (2019). The relationship of loot box purchases to problem video gaming and problem gambling. Addictive Behaviors, 97, 27-34. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.05.016

Li, W., Diez, S. L., & Zhao, Q. (2019). Exploring problematic Internet use among non-latinx black and latinx youth using the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-Short Form (PIUQ-SF). Psychiatry Research, 274, 322-329. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.02.048

Li, W., Garland, E. L., & Howard, M. O. (2018). Treatment mechanisms of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for Internet gaming disorder: Reducing craving and addictive behavior by targeting cognitive processes. Journal of Addictive Diseases. Published online first. doi:10.1080/10550887.2018.1442617

Li, W., Garland, E. L., O'Brien, J. E., Tronnier, C., McGovern, P., Anthony, B., & Howard, M. O. (2018). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for video game addiction in emerging adults: Preliminary findings from case reports. International Journal of Mental Health and Addictions. Publish online first. doi:10.1007/s11469-017-9765-8

Li, W., Garland, E. L., McGovern, P., O'Brien, J. E., Tronnier, C., & Howard, M. O. (2017). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for Internet gaming disorder in US adults: A stage I randomized controlled trial. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 31(4), 393-402. doi:10.1037/adb0000269

Li, W., Howard, M. O., Garland, E. L., McGovern, P., & Lazar, M. (2017). Mindfulness treatment for substance misuse: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 75, 62-96. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2017.01.008

Li, W., O’Brien, J. E., Snyder, S. E., & Howard, M. O. (2016). Diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction/problematic Internet use among U.S. university students: A mixed-methods evaluation. PLOS ONE, 11(1), e0145981. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0145981

Li, W., O’Brien, J. E., Snyder, S. M., & Howard, M. O. (2015). Characteristics of Internet addiction/pathological Internet use in U.S. university students: A qualitative-method investigation. PLOS ONE, 10(2), e0117372. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117372

Li, W., Garland, E. L., & Howard, M. O. (2014). Family factors in Internet addiction among Chinese youth: A review of English- and Chinese- language studies. Computers in Human Science, 31, 393-411. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2013.11.004

Julie Jargon (September 4, 2021). China sets weekday ban on kid’s videogame play. Should you do that, too? The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-sets-weekday-ban-on-kids-videogame-play-what-should-you-do-11630690682?st=gb9z1c36dwri7sh&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Andrew Keshner (May 25, 2021). A pandemic wakeup call? Middle schoolers should not spend more than 1 hour of recreation on screens. MarketWatch. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-pandemic-wakeup-call-middle-schoolers-should-spend-no-more-than-one-hour-on-screens-otherwise-they-face-consequences-11621962066?mod=mw_latestnews

Megan Schumann (May 24, 2021). Young teens should only use recreational Internet and video game one hour daily, Rutgers research suggests.

• Rutgers Today: https://www.rutgers.edu/news/young-teens-should-only-use-recreational-internet-and-video-games-one-hour-daily-rutgers
• EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/692280
• ScienceDaily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210524110248.htm
• NewJersey Patch: https://patch.com/new-jersey/newbrunswick/young-teens-should-only-use-recreational-tech-one-hour-daily

Susan Snyder (February 15, 2016). There’s a new addiction on campus: Problematic Internet use (PIU). The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/theres-a-new-addiction-on-campus-problematic-internet-use-piu-54226