
play video games, indicating that up to three million could be showing signs of addiction. It is estimated that over 90% of young people in the U.S.

It’s that some kids use them in a way that is out of balance and harms various other areas of their lives.” “It’s not that the games are bad,” said Gentile. Many need treatment to improve their academic performance and return to normal functioning. The problem of video game addiction isn’t as simple as playing too much or really enjoying video games.Īddicted gamers played video games twice as much as casual gamers (24 hours a week), are more than twice as likely to have ADD/ADHD, get into more physical fights, and have health problems caused by long hours of gameplay (e.g, hand and wrist pain, poor hygiene, irregular eating habits). Douglas Gentile, a developmental psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at ISU. “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,” said Dr. (Researchers adopted the gambling addiction criteria because there is no current medical diagnosis of video game addiction).


Some displayed at least six of 11 symptoms of pathological gambling as defined by the American Psychiatric Association. The study, which is based on data from a nationwide survey of 1,178 American children and teenagers, aged 8 to 18, found that roughly one in 10 video game players (8.5 percent of American youth) show signs of addictive behavior. To all of those who argue video game addiction is a made-up condition, new research presents evidence that may make you reconsider.Īdding fire to the debate as to the existence of video game addiction is a study from researchers at Iowa State University and the National Institute on Media and the Family.
