Computer game addiction: who is falling for it - and who is immune?

Gaming Disorder is the name of the new disease that will be represented in the WHO international medical classification system from 2022. Not every professional agrees that computer game addiction is an independent diagnosis. But if you keep your eyes, you will mostly discover a few people around you who can hardly give up their digital games. Who is particularly prone to sinking into the virtual game land?

Researchers followed 385 adolescents for 6 years

Computer game addiction has been little researched, although there is not a lack of research possibilities. Researchers at Brigham Young University in Utah took their time to gather solid study data and have now gone public with their findings. 385 young people scrutinized them over this long phase because they wanted to find out how often the gaming disorder occurs and who is affected by it. At the beginning of the research, the young people were around 15 years old. They received questionnaires at regular intervals about their play and social behavior, but also about their well-being.

Mainly boys behave problematically

Now that all the data have been evaluated, the scientists can identify all signs of computer game addiction in 10 percent of the study participants. These young adults can hardly part with their games, and that is clearly at the expense of other areas of life. Their social life is restricted and their mental health also suffers. Sometimes they show signs of depression, behave aggressively or particularly anxiously. It is mainly boys whose love of play is in the problematic area. Even test persons with poor social behavior were often unable to control themselves and spent many hours with their digital games.

In the case of the 10 percent mentioned, the researchers even observed a deterioration over the years. Another 18 percent had moderate symptoms all the time without any negative tendency being apparent. So the good news is: 90 percent of computer gamers pursue their hobby in a way that does not limit the rest of their lives. But: The relatively large number of really addicts is important to keep an eye on.