New Research Suggests Potential Causes For 'Problem Gaming'

With the specter of video game addiction still a major issue for the industry's image, new research sheds some light on potential underlying causes for what researchers refer to as "problem gaming." In a new scientific paper to be published in the Journal of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, psychologists at Eastern Michigan University asked 216 college students who play games regularly to fill out a survey identifying times when excessive gaming led to issues in real life -- such as problems with relationships, sleep or school performance. The researchers also conducted tests for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and asked participants to fill out a questionnaire on their general time management habits, to see if these underlying problems correlated with problems related to gaming. Interestingly, the results found a significant difference between the genders. While men overall reported longer play sessions and more incidences of problem gaming, strong time management skills were usually enough to prevent any problems stemming from too much play. For women, however, ADHD symptoms were a better predictor of problem gaming, independent of time management skills. "These findings suggest that interventions to address problematic play may need to vary as a function of gender," the researchers wrote. "Specifically, for men, time management training may help alleviate problematic play, but for women, reducing ADHD symptoms may be more effective." Beyond the gender differences, though, the study suggests addiction that seems linked specifically to video games might simply be a manifestation of a larger psychological problems. Last month, a controversial study from Iowa State's Richard Gentile linked childhood game play in children to certain mental health problems. And just this week, China reportedly imposed new controls allowing parents to limit children's internet and gaming usage to fight the prospect of addiction.