Video game addiction ‘contributes to depression and anxiety’ Addiction to video games can contribute to depression, anxiety and low self-esteem in players, affecting them both psychologically and physically, […]

Addiction to video games can contribute to depression, anxiety and low self-esteem in players, affecting them both psychologically and physically, a study has suggested.

Excessive game playing caused physical ailments including cardiovascular stress, wrist pain, issues with sleep and the nervous system and reduced physical activity, researchers from Nottingham Trent University and the University of Oulu, Finland, found.

Gamers were also at risk of mental side effects, ranging from depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviours, anxiety, lack of concentration and self-control and impulsiveness, the report said.

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The report, published in the Journal of Health Psychology, takes into account data from more than 130,000 gamers aged between 12 and 88 years old, and the findings of 50 studies into video game addiction conducted over the past 11 years.

Depression and anxiety were particularly prominent among the gamers examined in the new report, particularly among adults.

Gaming addiction was the cause of 16 per cent of issues related to OCD and physical symptoms, it found, concluding: “Overall, the results suggested that problematic gaming behaviour is significantly associated with a wide range of detrimental health-related outcomes.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced it would list gaming addiction as a recognised mental health condition earlier this month, ahead of the publication of the 11th International Classification of Diseases diagnostic tool.

Its draft document classifies gaming disorder as a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour, manifested by gaming “[taking] precedence over other life interests and daily activities and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.”

“It is important that our findings are used to inform both mental health professionals and the public about what videogame addiction is and how it can affect our health,” said Dr Halley Pontes, a researcher in Nottingham Trent University’s School of Social Sciences.

“Our work is important because it shows a wide range of health implications linked to videogame addiction. The study shows the potential health-related costs, whilst also providing details and insights into which specific health impairments can occur as a result of videogame addiction,” he added.