Background <p>There is limited research on the predictors of gaming disorder for parents regarding educational background. In particular, research conducted in settings similar to ours has identified gaming disorder as a significant risk factor for behaviors associated with juvenile delinquency.</p> Methods <p>This article proposes and tests hypotheses that the father’s and mother’s education levels were related to adolescent gaming disorder in adolescents in Chongqing, China. We used data from a census of Special School students to examine the association between parents’ education and adolescent gaming addiction. The participants were 378 Special School students (10.6% female, aged 10–18 years). The participants completed the paper-and-pencil questionnaire provided in this study, and 378 questionnaires were returned. Mediation analyses were used to assess both the direct and indirect effects.</p> Results <p>The findings indicated a significant negative and indirect association between higher mother’s education level and adolescent gaming disorder, which is serially mediated by emotional abuse and psychopathy (<i>b</i>_<i>p</i> = − .001, <i>p</i> &lt; .05). In contrast, the effect of a father’s education level on adolescent gaming disorders was not statistically significant.</p> Conclusions <p>Promoting mothers’ education level through educational activities has a positive impact on reducing adolescent gaming disorders. Focusing on women’s education can help alleviate the current situation of adolescent gaming addiction in society.</p>