Association between gaming disorders and psychosocial correlates among adolescents

Gaming disorder is a rapidly developing public health problem that can lead to detrimental psychological effects.

The study aimed to assess the association between gaming disorders and psychosocial correlates among adolescents in selected schools of New Delhi.

A web-based cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 111 adolescents using total enumerative sampling technique from November to December 2021 in selected schools of New Delhi. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, consisting of sociodemographic questions, IGDS-SF9, PSQI, ICQ, DASS-21, and IPPA. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Descriptive statistics were used to find out frequencies, percentages, and so on. Pearson Chi-square test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to determine the association between the variables.

The mean age (in years) of study participants was found to be 16.19 ± 2.49. Most of the adolescents were male (56.8%), belonged to nuclear families (61.3%), and were residents of the urban area (75.7%). The prevalence of gaming disorder was found to be 17.1% in adolescents. A statistically significant association was found between gaming disorder and depression (P < 0.001), anxiety (P < 0.001), stress (P < 0.001), sleep quality (P < 0.001), and relationship with father (P < 0.05). Additionally, there was no significant relationship found between gaming disorder and relationship with mother and interpersonal competence among adolescents.

Adolescents were experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, and poor sleep quality as a result of gaming disorder. Therefore, combined efforts of parents, teachers, doctors, and counsellors are required to help adolescents in coping with psychosocial issues.