Tech | April 22, 2009 | 9 comments

One in ten gamers are 'pathologically addicted'?

source: http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/gadgets_and_gaming/article6139935.ece

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DeliaTheArtist
"Nearly one in 10 American children who play computer games are pathologically addicted, according to new research.

Some young gamers show at least six symptoms of gambling addiction, such as lying to family and friends about how much they play games, using the games to escape their problems and becoming restless or irritable when they stop playing. They may also skip homework to play games or spend too much time playing and do poorly in school, the study shows.

Douglas Gentile, director of the National Institute on Media and the Family at Iowa State University, where the study was carried out, said in his report: "The present study was designed to demonstrate whether pathological gaming is an issue that merits further attention. With almost one out of 10 youth gamers demonstrating real-world problems because of their gaming, we can conclude that it does."

The findings are based on a national sample of 1,178 boys and girls aged 8 to 18. Almost 90 per cent of the children who completed the online questionnaire said that they played computer games.

Boys spent an average 16.4 hours a week playing games and girls 9.2 hours. "Addicted" gamers played 24 hours a week, twice as much as casual gamers."


Are YOU Addicted?
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9 comments // One in ten gamers are 'pathologically addicted'?

  • DeliaTheArtist
  • vladrath
    • 0
      vladrath  

    • I think that it is difficult to gauge if a younger child like for example the 8 year olds in this study could really be addicted. Or if it is just bad parenting, I mean if a parent lets a younger kid do anything they want they will probably spend to much time doing what they enjoy and not enough time concentrating on school work.

      That isn't to say I don't think that people can be addicted to games, I for a fact know it is very possible. I would have liked them to concentrate on a higher bracket of gamers such as 15 - 22. Those years are a tough time for a lot of people, I know I played games to much when I was older and had more freedom's and responsibliities and I saw other people I know use video games as an escape from whatever was bothering them.

      As far as the danger of video game addiciton goes I wouldn't be as worried about video game addicts as much as drug adicts because at least a gamer won't die from playing. They may mess some stuff up in their life but they will live if they have the support of their family's to help them out of their rough time.

    • 2 years ago
  • Debrinconcita
    • 0
      Debrinconcita  

    • I have never been addicted to video games or the Internet either??? But, drugs & alcohol yes! I am over it though, so I know how it gets. But, my son's are headed that way, and I have been having talks with them about too much video game playing. They have cut back quit a bit, and they have sold alot of their games. Thank God!

    • 2 years ago
  • Debrinconcita
    • 0
      Debrinconcita  

    • Ain't you a cheerful person? What bit you on the bu?? Nothing? People just need to calm down and not be so angry. Let it go, it's not important. Calm down and breathe. for 10 seconds. Okay! Is that better now??? I hope that helps a little even, if not nothing will!

    • 2 years ago
  • Get_Cape
    • 0
      Get_Cape  
    • Debrinconcita:

      Were you referring to me? If so, you should get to know me better before you decide what kind of person I am. Unfortunately I'm not interested In getting to know a 46 year old native American woman like yourself.

    • 2 years ago
  • jennatar
    • 0
      jennatar  
    • Debrinconcita:

      Get_Cape: I assumed she meant me. I posted earlier today in a foul mood.

      After working in the games industry for 3-4 years, and another year just blogging about it for fun, I get really bent out of shape when YET ANOTHER study comes out seemingly specifically to remind my mother that I totally wasted my life.

    • 2 years ago
  • Get_Cape
    • 0
      Get_Cape  

    • I gave up being addicted to videogames to be addicted to the internet. Internet is better anyway, you can actually learn stuff. Well I guess you could learn how to kill a hooker for free by playing videogames. But you can learn that online too. Am I rambling?

    • 2 years ago
  • jennatar
  • Debrinconcita
    • 0
      Debrinconcita  
    • jennatar:

      I know I used to play video games alot too, but now I am just on the computer all the time. Not all day and night or anything. But, alot and I do learn alot of things that I would not have ever learned. I also meet alot of people and make alot of friends. I don't meet them in person though. (I have never). I used to watch tv 24/7. Now I talk with people on the computer, I think this is a better outlet don't you?

    • 2 years ago
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