As with any other activity, gaming also has potential benefits and ill effects which make moderation and finding a balance essential. Excessive gaming is not just harmful for the wellbeing of the gamer, but also brings a host of other challenges and risks that include exposure of children to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, addiction, gambling and toxic peers.
But today we will focus on addiction. As many as 87 pc of gamers think that online gaming affects their physical and mental well-being, while 76 pc think that action game addiction has changed their behaviour raising levels of depression and anxiety says the India Digital Wellness Report by NortonLifeLock, a consumer cyber security brand.
According to video game addiction statistics, as many as 12 percent of boys and 7 percent of girls are addicted to gaming. Some research shows even higher numbers: A study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors found that 19 percent of males were classified as having gaming disorder vs. 7.8 percent of females. And those numbers are likely to increase as the industry grows.
Video game addiction works the same way as other so-called process addictions. Process addictions involve behaviours—such as shopping or exercising—that have the same effect on the brain as alcohol or drugs. They activate the brain’s reward centre, releasing the “feel-good” chemical dopamine. This creates a craving for the behaviour and a compulsion to continue it. Therefore, kids addicted to video games feel an uncontrollable urge to continue playing.
In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognised the severity of teenage video game addiction by classifying gaming disorder as a diagnosable mental health condition. Consequently, this disorder is included in the 11th edition of WHO’s International Classification of Diseases Manual. The WHO lists three main criteria for the diagnosis of gaming disorder:
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An inability to control the urge to play video games
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The feeling that gaming is more important than any other activity
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Continuing to play video games despite the negative consequences of the behavior on relationships, academic performance, and/or work.
Warning Signs of Video Game Addiction
In addition to the WHO’s three primary criteria, the American Psychological Association (APA) specifies other warning signs that may indicate teenage video game addiction. According to the APA, a teen needs to experience at least five of the following nine criteria over a 12-month period to be classified with internet gaming disorder:
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Preoccupation with gaming
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Withdrawal symptoms like irritability and anxiety when deprived of video games
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Increased tolerance—the ability and need to spend more and more time gaming
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Loss of interest in other activities
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Deceiving parents about the amount of time they spend gaming
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Loss of educational opportunities
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Using gaming to escape or relieve anxiety, guilt, or other negative emotions
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Inability to control the frequency and length of their playing
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Not limiting video game time even though it’s creating psychological problems.
In India, eSports Players Welfare Association has taken this matter up with urgency. They are working to bring the spotlight on the issue of addiction, as more and more people start taking gaming seriously. What EPWA highlights is not to stop gaming, but to find life balance with a sport (yes, eSports) and with other responsibilities like keeping grades up, exercising and eating well. The point is to identify time during the day that can be dedicated to gaming, but not at the cost of other activities. It is as important to go for a run, or play team sports, as it is to hook up with friends in the game lobby before an assault on your rivals.
