Most
kids play games, do homework, and play sports.
Others, get hooked on games.
People
are increasingly concerned about what is colloquially
called video game "addiction," but the
extend to which it is a problem has been unclear.
Dr. Douglas Gentile, in collaboration with Harris
Interactive®, found that 8.5% of youth video
gamers, ages 8 to 18, displayed pathological patterns
of videogame play as defined by exhibiting at
least six out of eleven symptoms of damage to
family, social, school, or psychological functioning.
This is the first study with a nationally representative
sample to demonstrate the prevalence of pathological
video gaming among American youth.
Pathological
gamers (compared to non-pathological gamers) spent
twice as much time playing games, were more likely
to have video game systems in their bedrooms,
reported having more trouble paying attention
at school, received poorer grades in school, had
more health problems, and were more likely to
feel "addicted."
With
nine in ten youth reporting that they play video
games, Dr. Gentile feels that, "Gamers and
parents should be alert for warning signs before
it becomes a problem. However, it is important
that people realize that playing a lot is not
the same as an addiction – the play has to
damage functioning, such as by hindering school
performance."
Douglas
Gentile, Ph.D. is the director of research for
the National Institute on Media and the Family.
›
To learn more about the warning signs for video
game
addiction and what to do visit www.mediawise.org.
People
are increasingly concerned about what is colloquially
called video game "addiction," but the
extend to which it is a problem has been unclear.
Dr. Douglas Gentile, in collaboration with Harris
Interactive®, found that 8.5% of youth video
gamers, ages 8 to 18, displayed pathological patterns
of videogame play as defined by exhibiting at
least six out of eleven symptoms of damage to
family, social, school, or psychological functioning.
This is the first study with a nationally representative
sample to demonstrate the prevalence of pathological
video gaming among American youth.
