Can gaming ‘addiction’ lead to depression or aggression in young people?

(Article took from theconversation.com/can-gaming-addiction-lead-to-depression-or-aggression-in-young-people-heres-what-the-evidence-says-168847)

Correlation or causation?

The coroner found Oliver had a “gaming disorder” as the World Health Organisation, although he was not diagnosed as such during his life. The WHO’s classification of a gaming disorder is based on a person’s attitude towards gaming, rather than time spent gaming. Simply, gaming becomes a when it starts to interfere with a person’s healthy daily functioning.

We know more than two billion people around the world play games, but are thought to have a gaming disorder.

Debates about the potential harms of gaming are often framed around whether violence in gaming can cause violence in real life. For this, there is simply no evidence.

There is some correlation, but these findings must be assessed very carefully. For example, 

shows gamers who are already more socially sensitive, or have existing mental health issues, may in turn be more sensitive to violence in games.

Gaming as escapism

There’s a marked difference between a gaming addiction causing aggression or depression, and an already depressed or troubled person turning to games as a form of escapism.

The tells us gaming has no harmful impacts on healthy young people who don’t have existing mental health problems.

However, negative forces in life may drive some people towards gaming as a way to cope. Specifically, people who already feel a sense of self blame, loss of control in life or social disengagement are more likely to turn to gaming as a – not unlike how some may turn to drugs, alcohol or gambling.

Gaming, however, is much more accessible to young people. And in situations where gaming is used as a form of escapism, the gameplay does not resolve the underlying issue. It simply puts it on hold for a while.

Cutting off gaming may make it harder to cope

It’s often young people, and namely young men, who tend to be the research investigating the potential harms of gaming. This in an important factor when addressing the findings of this research.

Adolescence is more likely to be a complex and fraught time when compared to other stages in life. It’s therefore not surprising problematic gaming is more commonly found in this group.

But again, this is not the same as gaming itself being the driver of young people’s troubles.

In cases where gaming is used as a coping mechanism – and this is forcibly removed from their life – they may feel an even larger sense of .

What we don’t know – and what you can do

The bottom line is there’s no evidence to suggest gaming itself leads to aggression or depression among young people. The reality is, as ever, much more nuanced.

The findings in the Victorian coroner’s report are a reminder we still don’t fully understand exactly how problematic gaming ties into various other factors in a person’s life. We’ll need more balanced and in-depth research to unpack this issue.

We lack experts who are specialised in addressing gaming disorder. And globally we lack consensus on how problematic gaming can and should be classified, or even if it should be considered a disorder at all. Australia’s primary clinical diagnostic guide does not have a specific diagnosis for “gaming disorder”.

For parents who may be concerned about a child’s gaming habits, one approach may be to play some games with the child, and engage in discussion without judgement.