Most
kids can play games, do homework and play sports.
Other kids, get hooked on games.
Institute Director of Research contributes to ground breaking
study.
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.
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To learn more about the warning signs for video game addiction
and what to do visit click
here.
