Exploratory Study on Video Game Addiction of College Students in a Pandemic Scenario

Abstract

The use of video games has increased significantly in the last decade. The young population has always been more inclined to use them. However, the risks of addiction to them are growing with the access to the Internet and new digital devices, the lower cost of them, and the lack of parental control. On the other hand, a weird circumstance as the COVID-19 pandemic involves weeks-long confinements, which may significantly influence increased consumption. This study aims to know university students' situation in Spain regarding the problem described in this pandemic scenario. It analyzes the use of video games and whether addiction risks appearance, examining which factors are determinants of this behavior. The method is based on various statistical techniques: descriptive analysis, the association between variables, and logistic regression to check the phenomenon studied, which are predictive variables. As a result, high video game consumption during confinement was got, finding addiction patterns in 16.6%. The excessive use of social networks and being male show significant relevance. These results also show the existence of comorbidity, meaning that university students may suffer from psychological and psychiatric disorders linked to other consumptions. Health and academic authorities should consider this individual, social, and health problem and implement prevention, detection, and treatment programs. INTRODUCTION

Distance Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Impact of Online Gaming Addiction on University Students’ Performance

“…Female students spend less time playing video games. The findings of this study are consistent with that of [17,25,26,27,28,29].…”

Use of MOOCs in Health Care Training: A Descriptive-Exploratory Case Study in the Setting of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…This training has the potential to prevent, or reduce, among other things, the possible addiction of young people to video games [60]. At the same time, it allows access to free training, facilitating the right of young people to access education and increasing their employability, especially in the situation created by COVID-19.…”

Üniversite Öğrencilerinde İnternet, Sosyal Medya ve Oyun Bağımlılığının Değerlendirilmesi

“…SMBÖ toplam puanı ile DOBÖ toplam puan arasında orta şiddette pozitif yönlü ilişki (p˂0,001) YİBÖ toplam puanı ile ise (p˂0,001) arasında da pozitif yönde kuvvetli korelasyon bulunmaktaydı (Tablo 3). (30). Ancak alkol ve sigara gibi kısa süreli rahatlama sağlayan maddelerin internet ve sosyal medya kullanımında pekiştireç rolü oynadığını ve risk faktörleri olduğunu gösteren çok sayıda çalışma bulgusu bulunmaktadır (32).…”