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Signs of addiction among many young gamers: study

20 April 2009 18:56 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 9 comments

A study by the Iowa State University (ISU) and the National Institute on Media and the Family has revealed that one in ten players of video games exhibits some symptoms of addiction. Researchers found that some show at least six symptoms of "gambling addiction" which includes lying to their families and friends about how much they actually play, using games to escape problems and becoming irritable when they have stopped playing.

Since the study focused on children and teenagers, it also noted a very negative effect on homework and overall performance in school among the gamers showing addiction signs. "While the medical community currently does not recognize video game addiction as a mental disorder, hopefully this study will be one of many that allow us to have an educated conversation on the positive and negative effects of video games," Dr Douglas Gentile, an assistant professor of psychology at ISU, said in a statement.

1,178 children and teenagers aged between 8 - 18 years old were included in the study. Six of the eleven symptoms of pathological gambling as defined by the American Psychiatric Association were identified in a portion of the gamers (about ten percent). The technically "addicted" gamers generally spent 24 hours or more per week playing games, twice as much as casual gamers in the study.

"While video games can be fun and entertaining, some kids are getting into trouble. I continue to hear from families who are concerned about their child's gaming habits. Not only do we need to focus on identifying the problem, but we need to find ways to help families prevent and treat it," said Dr David Walsh, the president of the National Institute on Media and the Family.

"This study gives everyone a better idea of the scope of the problem," he continued.

Permalink to this article | Topic: Consoles

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inagasake (Member) 20 April 2009 19:42
It's interesting how they equate gaming a lot with gaming addiction. I'm a heavy computer/internet user and I do not consider myself addicted whatsoever. If I'm not on the computer/internet, I'm just as happy playing on a game console, watching a movie/tv show, reading a good book, etc. My problem is that I procrastinate too much for my own good. What I'm doing while I procrastinate is not that important. So you really have to wonder. How much of this game "addiction", computer/internet "addiction" epidemic really about actual addiction (with withdrawal symptoms and all) compared to simply just wanting an escape from the stresses and obligations of life (ie. procrastination)? [ + quote]
Run4two (Junior Member) 20 April 2009 19:43
The hell with the young kids, my 42 yr. old wife is addicted to Animal Crossing City Folk on the Wii. It was a gift to our children and she has taken over the damn thing and stays up late (after the children go to sleep) and wakes up early to have her private Wii time. Why oh why couldn't she have fallen in love with porn instead? I tried!!! :) [ + quote]
DXR88 (Senior Member) 20 April 2009 22:03
there is a reason we have the Casual/Hardcore genre. Some people just get so into it, it becomes a false addiction. you should ask the same group you studied how many real life friends they have, my guess the answer would be close to 0. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 20 April 2009 22:33
DXR88 (Senior Member) 20 April 2009 22:32
...Ignore It [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 20 April 2009 22:33
KillerBug (Senior Member) 21 April 2009 1:10
Addiction is a chemical thing. No one is addicted to gambling; they are addicted the chemicals that are released in the brain under stress and excitement related to gambling. There is no such thing as an addictive game, but real excitement is too expensive for kids to afford. [ + quote]
Andy7472 (Newbie) 21 April 2009 1:32
That's the same as saying that no one is adicted to drugs, but the chemical release that the stress and excitement related to doing the drugs give them. Sorry , same difference. [ + quote]
Mik3h (AfterDawn Addict) 21 April 2009 2:40
*Originally posted by Andy7472:* That's the same as saying that no one is adicted to drugs, but the chemical release that the stress and excitement related to doing the drugs give them. Sorry , same difference. Well, not really, since there really is an additive in drugs which makes them addictive. Nicotine, for example is an additive which makes it's users become dependant. Games don't emit any kind of artificial substance with an addictive additive, so that's why they're considered psychologically addictive. [ + quote]
RusSnajp (Newbie) 21 April 2009 10:40
This so called study happens to be in some city in america , things are a lot different over the lake. [ + quote]
jrhythm (Newbie) 22 April 2009 4:30
being addicted to games could be the cause or result and don't think it doesn't happen to adults because that was me back in January when I played 'em all day every day exclusively I gotta feeling why I needed 'em like sushi to rice they made me feel nice like I won... when I failed at life To hear me rap my full opinion, watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vODYlPOvLao [ + quote]