Video Games and Addiction study on Children

[ATB]

The results are not surprising but I'm guessing the criteria could be applied to just about any hobby (television, reading, etc) and I doubt it would make headlines. But that's not to diminish the fact that it is a potential problem...

Some of the symptoms:

including skipping chores and homework for video games CHECK
poor test or homework performance  not sure what the equivalent is in adult life, but maybe.
playing games to escape problems CHECK
excessive thinking about games CHECK (you're going DOWN Visari!)
planning the next opportunity, CHECK
trying to play less and failing, CHECK
restlessness or irritability when trying to reduce or stop playing, CHECK
lying about play time, no.
stealing a game or stealing money to buy a game. no

I couldn't find what the other symptoms were.  Also,  I'm not surprised that I personally show the signs of addiction and I bet most people on this board would too.

[Razgon]

This nonsense is taking up valuable gaming time! STOP IT!

anyways, I agree, I can say check to most of the same ones, actually, which may be a bad thing, but as you say - it applies to many things... Even sex, does that make me a sexoholic? ;-)

[Canuck]

I don't see anything wrong with planning the opportunity.  I mean when you're an adult you've got things to do and you have to book a time for it just like everything in life.

[Larraque]

Headline: Video-game-playing kids showing addiction symptoms
FTFA: Nearly one in 10 children and teens who play video games show behavioral signs that may indicate addiction

 

[Purge]

This nonsense is taking up valuable gaming time! STOP IT!

anyways, I agree, I can say check to most of the same ones, actually, which may be a bad thing, but as you say - it applies to many things... Even sex, does that make me a sexoholic? ;-)

You need to take a good hard look at yourself... chafed skin, your forearm proportions matching that of a fiddler crab, palm-to-palm carpeting and nearly blind?

Yeah, I'd say you're addicted to the internet.

Spoiler for Hiden:

heh. I said "fiddler".

[Space Herpes]

The results are not surprising but I'm guessing the criteria could be applied to just about any hobby (television, reading, etc) and I doubt it would make headlines. But that's not to diminish the fact that it is a potential problem...

Some of the symptoms:

including skipping chores and homework for video games CHECK
poor test or homework performance  not sure what the equivalent is in adult life, but maybe.
playing games to escape problems CHECK
excessive thinking about games CHECK (you're going DOWN Visari!)
planning the next opportunity, CHECK
trying to play less and failing, CHECK
restlessness or irritability when trying to reduce or stop playing, CHECK
lying about play time, no.
stealing a game or stealing money to buy a game. no

I couldn't find what the other symptoms were.  Also,  I'm not surprised that I personally show the signs of addiction and I bet most people on this board would too.

We could apply this to teen boys and another addiction.

including skipping chores and homework to see girlfriend.
poor test or homework performance  (no need to modify)
playing with girlfriend to escape problems
excessive thinking about girlfriend
planning the next move on girlfriend
trying to play less and failing (no need to modify)
restlessness or irritability when not playing with girlfriend,
lying about time spent with girlfriend.
stealing money or jewelery to impress girlfriend.

Though, I guess the caveat would be that being addicted to the opposite sex helps the species.  Of course, that's what THEY want you to thing.

[JSL]

including skipping chores and homework for video games in the past, yes, but now, no
poor test or homework performance  not sure what the equivalent is in adult life, but maybe.
playing games to escape problems yes
excessive thinking about games yes
planning the next opportunity no
trying to play less and failing yes
restlessness or irritability when trying to reduce or stop playing, yes
lying about play time, no.
stealing a game or stealing money to buy a game. no

The full article is not available online yet, but when it is I will have to remember to download it and read through it. It actually looks like a pretty good journal overall.

I will add in a couple of my own:
feeling guilty about playing games, especially for long periods of time yes
restlessness or irritability when there is not time to play games yes

[Destructor]

Headline: Video-game-playing kids showing addiction symptoms
FTFA: Nearly one in 10 children and teens who play video games show behavioral signs that may indicate addiction

 

Oh no! This means that ALL of them are! 

Stupid media and their stupid non-truthful attention-grabbing headlines.

[Blackjack]

I'm not a parent, but I think my brother and sister-in-law have done a pretty good job with my niece and nephew with "softly" setting some limits on how much time they spend playing (they each have DS lites now, and they play a lot of Guitar Hero, and a golf game I got them, on a PS2), and making sure they still get out and do outdoorsy things as a family (fishing, hiking, camping, etc.).

It seems like the key is being well-rounded. Most of the trouble I've seen is when parents use videogames as a "babysitter" for extended periods of time. If you're going to let a kid molt, and play 12 hours straight regularly, then, probably you're opening the door to addiction.

As an adult I've had certain games (Duke Nukem 3D, the first Diablo, and City of Heroes for a couple of years come to mind) where I probably was addicted, to the point I would be late to work, or I'd stay at home playing all weekend instead of going out. I try to watch myself on that a little more now.

As a teen in the 1980s, I definitely used arcade games (and Intellivision and handheld games - hey we had fewer choices then ) for "escape," usually I was just plain old lonely. I guess maybe that was an addiction, but I tend to look back and say gaming got me through a few tough years OK.