Association between gaming disorders and psychosocial correlates among adolescents

Background: Gaming disorder is a rapidly developing public health problem that can lead to detrimental psychological effects. Aim: The study aimed to assess the association between gaming disorders and psychosocial correlates among adolescents in selected schools of New Delhi. Materials and Methods: A web-based cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 111 adolescents using total enumerative sampling technique from November to December 2021 in selected schools of New Delhi. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, consisting of sociodemographic questions, IGDS-SF9, PSQI, ICQ, DASS-21, and IPPA. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Descriptive statistics were used to find out frequencies, percentages, and so on. Pearson Chi-square test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to determine the association between the variables. Results: The mean age (in years) of study participants was found to be 16.19 ± 2.49. Most of the adolescents were male (56.8%), belonged to nuclear families (61.3%), and were residents of the urban area (75.7%). The prevalence of gaming disorder was found to be 17.1% in adolescents. A statistically significant association was found between gaming disorder and depression ( P < 0.001), anxiety ( P < 0.001), stress ( P < 0.001), sleep quality ( P < 0.001), and relationship with father ( P < 0.05). Additionally, there was no significant relationship found between gaming disorder and relationship with mother and interpersonal competence among adolescents. Conclusion: Adolescents were experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, and poor sleep quality as a result of gaming disorder. Therefore, combined efforts of parents, teachers, doctors, and counsellors are required to help adolescents in coping with psychosocial issues.