Is Pathological Video Gaming an 'Addiction'?
SodaHead Living
2011/01/17 21:18:10
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We told you last week that eating too much may soon be considered an "addiction." Now here's another one for you: video game addiction.
A new study found that kids and teens who are more likely to become addicted to video games (which researchers call "pathological" video gaming) are those who spend a lot of hours playing these games, have trouble fitting in with other kids and are more impulsive than children who aren't addicted, HealthDay reports.
We've always had a bit of an intolerance for kids (and adults) who'd rather be playing video games than doing anything else ... even if it's Rock Band or Wii tennis.
But apparently, for some young people, this is a serious "addiction." Once addicted to video games, children in the study were more likely to become depressed, anxious or have other social phobias. Their school performance also suffered.
"It might be that kids who are socially awkward, who aren't doing well in school, get depressed and then lose themselves into games," Douglas A. Gentile, an associate professor of psychology at Iowa State University in Ames, told HealthDay.
"But we found that in kids who started gaming pathologically, depression and anxiety got worse. And, when they stopped gaming, the depression lifted. It may be that these disorders [co-exist], but games seem to make the problem worse."
Also eye-opening: Among the 3,034 participants in the study, the average time spent playing video games was around 20.5 to 22.5 hours a week. That's about three hours a day when they're most certainly not doing homework.
What do you think? Is gaming a real addiction? Or is this just more junk science?
A new study found that kids and teens who are more likely to become addicted to video games (which researchers call "pathological" video gaming) are those who spend a lot of hours playing these games, have trouble fitting in with other kids and are more impulsive than children who aren't addicted, HealthDay reports.
We've always had a bit of an intolerance for kids (and adults) who'd rather be playing video games than doing anything else ... even if it's Rock Band or Wii tennis.
But apparently, for some young people, this is a serious "addiction." Once addicted to video games, children in the study were more likely to become depressed, anxious or have other social phobias. Their school performance also suffered.
"It might be that kids who are socially awkward, who aren't doing well in school, get depressed and then lose themselves into games," Douglas A. Gentile, an associate professor of psychology at Iowa State University in Ames, told HealthDay.
"But we found that in kids who started gaming pathologically, depression and anxiety got worse. And, when they stopped gaming, the depression lifted. It may be that these disorders [co-exist], but games seem to make the problem worse."
Also eye-opening: Among the 3,034 participants in the study, the average time spent playing video games was around 20.5 to 22.5 hours a week. That's about three hours a day when they're most certainly not doing homework.
What do you think? Is gaming a real addiction? Or is this just more junk science?
Read More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20110117/hl_hsn/videog...
I myself have enjoyed many computer and video games over the years. I have recognized that some have occupied an excessive amount of my time, time I might otherwise spend woodworking, exercising or even painting the house. At the same time, after I do my exercise, eta and clean the dishes, I do enjoy a game whereas I might otherwise watch the same Hollywood crap on TV. I can recognize some of the things the research indicates and I am inclined to think the science has a basis.
i played for years on various game systems
i have managed to have life
i have my real life life
girlfirend family friends job
then my game life
game buddies game foes gamers i chat with
i can tell the differance bettween fantasy and reality
i dont think games are addictive for me
but prehaps for others who dont have the ability to make room in thier life for both prehaps they are addicted
Okay, bad example.
I know in my family during the winter months you would say were addicted to video games , TV, and the computer, it's almost like a game of musical chairs rotating from one to the other,but when the weather gets warm then it's archery, fishing, hiking, camping and shooting guns, that were addicted to. at least it's not drugs or alcohol. "a family who plays together stays together."
I had a friend that got addicted to pron what a sick bastard he turned out to be.
I work 40-60 hours a week. That's much more time than these kids spend on video games. Is that pathological. Take work away and my stress level drops dramatically. Of course loosing a job would have the opposite affect so optimum work time is something more than zero but less than 40.
I don't think the number of hours you do something is itself the defining parameter for addiction or doing it too much. It's a matter of whether you have a balanced life with a decent variety. A balance of responsibilities, social interaction, introspection, and fun time.
I'd write more, but I have a video game to get to...
pathological eating, pathological gambling, pathologically answering sodahead polls, pathologically being a pain in the *ss (<== thats mine ^^ )...
I have no idea why eating is mentioned in this - eating is obviously addictive for some people if they can become so obese. You wouldn't eat that much unless you were addicted to eating. To think it can't be called an addiction is idiotic.
I don't think video gaming should be thought of as a serious addiction that needs rehab and everything for it. It isn't as serious as being addicted to drugs or smoking, where you body makes it difficult for you to give up,, but that doesn't mean it's not an addiction.
I shouldn't judge others for their addictions, to be honest. I'm addicted to tea and TV. And I bet a lot of you on here thinking it's stupid to call video gaming an addicton have your own little addictions that you're either not aware of or don't want to mention.
Have a nice day!