Risks of Excessive Gaming for Children and Pre-teens
Excessive gaming in children and pre-teens poses significant health risks including increased aggressive behavior, sleep disorders, poor academic performance, obesity, and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
Physical Health Impacts
Sedentary Behavior and Physical Health
- Higher duration of screen time, including gaming, is associated with:
- Lower physical fitness (cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness)
- Poorer cardiometabolic health
- Unfavorable measures of adiposity (obesity)
- Shorter sleep duration 1
Sleep Disruption
- Children who use internet gaming applications for more than 6 hours have the poorest sleep quality (75%)
- Gaming before bedtime can lead to:
- Delayed sleep onset
- Reduced sleep duration
- Poorer sleep quality 2
- Sleep problems can cascade into daytime fatigue and reduced cognitive functioning
Mental Health and Behavioral Impacts
Aggressive Behavior
- Significant exposure to media violence, including violent video games, increases the risk of aggressive behavior in certain children and adolescents
- Media violence can desensitize children to violence and make them believe the world is a "meaner and scarier" place than it is 1
Addiction and Problematic Gaming
- Gaming disorder is characterized by:
- Impaired control over gaming
- Increasing priority given to gaming over other activities
- Continuation of gaming despite negative consequences 1
- Children who use internet gaming applications for more than 6 hours show:
- Higher proportion of abnormal responses on emotional symptoms scales
- Increased hyperactivity 2
Social Development
- Excessive gaming can hinder social relationships and development of emotional intelligence 3
- Time spent with media often displaces involvement in creative, active, or social activities 1
- May lead to social isolation and poor development of face-to-face social skills
Academic Performance
- Excessive gaming is associated with poor school performance 3
- Time spent gaming reduces time available for:
- Homework and studying
- Reading and other educational activities
- Creative play that develops problem-solving skills
Risk Factors for Problematic Gaming
Age and Gender Considerations
- Adolescents and males tend to score higher on game addiction scales 4
- Gaming disorder often develops during adolescence and young adulthood 1
Pre-existing Conditions
- Children with pre-existing mental health conditions are at higher risk:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 4
Parental Factors
- Violent parenting and absence of parental supervision increase levels of game addiction in children 4
- Lack of clear boundaries around screen time contributes to excessive use
Pandemic-Related Concerns
- During COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in:
- Gaming usage time
- Game addiction scores 4
- Isolated children used gaming to cope with psychological pain and avoid social isolation
Mitigation Strategies
Media Education
- Media education has potential to reduce harmful effects of excessive gaming
- A media-educated person will be able to:
- Limit use of media
- Make positive media choices
- Select creative alternatives to media consumption
- Develop critical thinking skills 1
Physical Activity
- WHO guidelines recommend children and adolescents should do at least an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity 1
- Ensuring adequate physical activity can help counterbalance sedentary gaming time
Parental Monitoring
- Parents should monitor:
- Content of games (age-appropriate)
- Time spent gaming
- Signs of problematic use (irritability when unable to play, neglecting other activities)
Common Pitfalls and Caveats
- Not all gaming is harmful - moderate, age-appropriate gaming can have cognitive benefits
- Individual susceptibility varies - some children are more vulnerable to gaming addiction than others
- Focus on screen time alone is insufficient - content and context of gaming matter
- Abrupt restriction can lead to conflict - gradual reduction with alternative activities is more effective
- Ignoring early warning signs of problematic gaming can lead to more severe addiction
It's important to note that while gaming has risks, complete prohibition is likely unnecessary and potentially counterproductive. The goal should be balanced, supervised, and age-appropriate gaming within the context of a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity, social interaction, and adequate sleep.