Sadness, Suicide, and Their Association with Video Game and Internet Overuse among Teens: Results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2007 and 2009

Abstract

We investigated the association between excessive video game/Internet use and teen suicidality. Data were obtained from the 2007 and 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a high school-based, nationally representative survey (N = 14,041 and N = 16,410, respectively). Teens who reported 5 hours or more of video games/Internet daily use, in the 2009 YRBS, had a significantly higher risk for sadness (adjusted and weighted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval = 2.1, 1.7-2.5), suicidal ideation (1.7, 1.3-2.1), and suicide planning (1.5, 1.1-1.9). The same pattern was found in the 2007 survey. These findings support an association between excessive video game and Internet use and risk for teen depression and suicidality.

Gambling and Video Game Playing Among Youth

“…It could be these youths suffer from depression and therefore play pathologically to escape negative emotions, or it could be pathological play has led to depression. Other research has found that young people who report excessive video game play (five hours or more per day) are more likely to report pervasive feelings of sadness or hopelessness, stopping participating in usual activities, and suicidal ideation and suicidal plans (Messias et al, 2011). Correlations have been found for video game addiction and depression, poor academic achievement, heavy drinking, and conduct problems (Brunborg, Mentzoni, & Frøyland, 2014).…”

“…There is ample research indicating significant correlations between gambling, problem gambling, and depression (Bonnaire, Bungener, & Varescon, 2009;Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a;Kim, Grant, Eckert, Faris, & Hartman, 2006;Martin, Usdan, Cremeens, & Vail-Smith, 2014;McCormick, Russo, Ramirez, & Taber, 1984;Potenza et al, 2001). Adolescents with gambling problems report higher rates of depression, alcohol abuse, anxiety, and are at heightened risk for both reported suicide ideation and attempts (Desai, Maciejewski, Pantalon, & Potenza, 2005;Kaminer, Burleson, & Jadamec, 2002;Molde, Pallesen, Bartone, Hystad, & Johnsen, 2009;Moodie & Finnigan, 2006a; While in its infancy, the research on gaming and depression supports a positive relationship between problematic gaming (as measured by time spent playing or the Game Addiction Scale (Lemmens et al, 2011)), and depression (Desai, Krishnan-Sarin, Cavallo, Gambling and Video Game Playing 26 & Potenza, 2010;Lemmens et al, 2011;Mentzoni et al, 2011;Messias, Castro, Saini, Usman, & Peeples, 2011). Problem video game players have been found to have higher levels of anxiety and depression and lower life satisfaction compared with both non-gamers and non-problem gamers and are more likely to report suicidal ideation and suicidal plans than those who do not play video games (Desai et al, 2010;Mentzoni et al, 2011;Messias et al, 2011).…”

“…Adolescents with gambling problems report higher rates of depression, alcohol abuse, anxiety, and are at heightened risk for both reported suicide ideation and attempts (Desai, Maciejewski, Pantalon, & Potenza, 2005;Kaminer, Burleson, & Jadamec, 2002;Molde, Pallesen, Bartone, Hystad, & Johnsen, 2009;Moodie & Finnigan, 2006a; While in its infancy, the research on gaming and depression supports a positive relationship between problematic gaming (as measured by time spent playing or the Game Addiction Scale (Lemmens et al, 2011)), and depression (Desai, Krishnan-Sarin, Cavallo, Gambling and Video Game Playing 26 & Potenza, 2010;Lemmens et al, 2011;Mentzoni et al, 2011;Messias, Castro, Saini, Usman, & Peeples, 2011). Problem video game players have been found to have higher levels of anxiety and depression and lower life satisfaction compared with both non-gamers and non-problem gamers and are more likely to report suicidal ideation and suicidal plans than those who do not play video games (Desai et al, 2010;Mentzoni et al, 2011;Messias et al, 2011). Problematic MMORPG playing has been associated with poor psychosocial well-being, including loneliness, introversion, and depression, escapism, and time spent continuously in-game (Allison, von Wahlde, Shockley, & Gabbard, 2006;Caplan, Williams, & Yee, 2009;Stetina, Kothgassner, Lehenbauer, & Kryspin-Exner, 2011).…”

Toward a consensus definition of pathological video-gaming: A systematic review of psychometric assessment tools

“…5 per day (Messias et al, 2011), and "dependent" video-gaming as more than 10 hours per week (Huang, 2006). However, as Griffiths (2010) has shown using case studies, the time spent engaged in gaming is not necessarily an indicator of problematic play and that context is critical when using time as criterion for addictive gaming.…”

Discovering unique profiles of adolescent information and communication technology (ICT) use: Are ICT use preferences associated with identity and behaviour development?

“…Research indicates that the average weekly screen-time of youth has increased by 43 hours in the last few years, suggesting that adolescents now spend approximately 11 hours a day interacting with a digital media device (O'Loughlin, Lambert, Gauvin, Kestens, & Daniel, 2008;Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts, 2010;Rideout, Pai, & Saphir, 2015). Some research has showcased the social and educational benefits that come from teenager technology use (GLSEN, CiPHR, & CCRC, 2013;Hickerson & Mowen, 2012;Pew Research Center, 2015), however, more numerous studies have attributed negative and deteriorating mental health to the increasingly ubiquitous digital media consumption amongst adolescents (Martin, 2011;Messias, Castro, Saini, Usman, & Peeples, 2011;Rosen, Whaling, Rab, Carrier, & Cheever, 2013). Despite these initial and, in some cases, mixed findings, current understanding of how access to, and interaction with, technology impacts on our youth's development is impoverished.…”