A new study out of UCSB's Media Neuroscience Lab indicates that gaming disorder (AKA video game addiction) likely develops from a player's preexisting mental health conditions.
Sometimes, however, gamers become fixated, compulsive or — worse — spiral into a full-blown gaming disorder marked by isolation, distress, interpersonal conflicts and severe neglect of responsibilities.
And actually talk about mostly kids.
The abstract of the actual paper is very clear and much better:
Key Points
Question Is preexisting psychopathology associated with subsequent gaming disorder among adolescents, or is compulsive gaming associated with the development of psychopathology?
Findings In this cohort study of 4289 adolescents, longitudinal models revealed that higher baseline levels of psychopathology were significantly associated with an increased risk of developing gaming disorder 1 year later. However, there was no significant association between gaming disorder and the development or worsening of psychopathology.
I think it’s fundamentally bad science to say:
And actually talk about mostly kids.
The abstract of the actual paper is very clear and much better: