health
Children's excessive video gaming linked to mental health issues
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 31, 2011
Children who become so obsessed with playing video games that it affects their relationships, schoolwork and other life factors are prone to mental health problems, a new study says.
Researchers studied 3,034 children in elementary and secondary school in Singapore and found higher rates of depression, anxiety and social phobias among about 9% of children who were categorized as pathological gamers. Those children were more likely to do badly in school and have poorer relationships with their parents.
Children who were less socially competent and more impulsive were deemed at greater risk of becoming pathological gamers. Results of the two-year study are in the February issue of Pediatrics (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/01/31/hlbf0131.htm.
