Although mainly teens play the game seems to be largely harmless, a small entitlement of “players” may be too obsessed with the pastime, a study published Monday suggests. Based on a survey of Connecticut students long just over 4,000 secondary schools, the analysis revealed that among those who played video games or computer, only 5 percent reported secret language of “trouble” game including having an irresistible urge to touch, and not to try to reduce the game, and feelings of tension can be alleviated through the game. These behaviors are similar to the red flags used in the diagnosis of dependence on alcohol, drugs and money.
On the other hand, researchers have found among 95 percent of players who do not fall under the “problem” category, there was little evidence that the hobby has been associated with adverse effects on health or academic. The children who played computer games are no more likely than their peers to report alcohol or drugs, and boys who gamed were less likely than boys to smoke. An exception among girls is that those who played video games were more likely to admit serious fights or carry a weapon. But the vast majority of girls to study behavior are, 4 per cent said they had put in a serious fight in the last year and 8 percent said they carry a weapon.
The findings, published in the journal Pediatrics, suggest that for most teenagers, video games are just part of normal behavior. The results of some previous studies have led people to believe that video games cause aggressive behavior in adolescents, Dr. A. Rani Desai, principal investigator of the study, told Reuters Health in an e-mail. But a lot of careful research and study as well, do not support,” he said. For the study, Desai and colleagues at Yale University School of Medicine surveyed 4028 students on gambling and various health-related behaviors.
Overall, 76 percent of boys and 29 percent of girls said they played video games or computer. Among the players, 6 percent of boys and 3 percent of girls reported symptoms of pathological gambling. Unlike games in general, pathological gambling is associated with higher risks of smoking, depression, drug abuse and fighting among children. Among young people who smoke regularly, for example, 8 percent were problem gamblers, compared with 4 percent for teens who said they had never smoked. But if the game helped cause these problems of others, or is the result of them or just coexists with them is not clear, investigators said.
“Correlation does not equal causation,” said Desai. “Children who smoke may also be more likely to develop a gambling problem No other way, we can’t say about these data ultimately, as the team Desai, is that the rate of problem gambling among teens is small but not insignificant. Although the study sample consisted only of secondary schools in one state, Desai said the 5 percent rate of problem gambling among students is consistent with rates reported in a series of compulsive disorders.
And there is no reason to believe that the age of the Connecticut high school would be significantly different gambling habits of adolescents in other countries, he added. There are some signs of problem gambling for parents to look for, according to Desai. Time teen uses video games is not in itself signal the final, “he said. “But if the teenager fails school, social activities, not related to play or do not eat or sleep, so the game is very worrying “added. Parents are concerned about their playing children can start bringing it to your pediatrician, said Desai. If necessary, a pediatrician may refer the matter to the mental health professional.
