Impact of using electronic games on psychological domain of adolescents quality of life in Kirkuk secondary schools

Impact of using electronic games on psychological domain of adolescents quality of life in Kirkuk secondary schools

Huda Faeeq [1]                                                           Eqbal Ghanim Ali[2]

Abstract

Objectives: to identify the impact of using electronic games on psychological domain of adolescents quality of life and find out relationship between socio demographic variables and psychological domain

Methods: A descriptive study conducted among 300 adolescents using electronic games and the data collected by using questionnaire contain the sociodemographic characteristics and 9 items related to psychological domains.

Results: most of adolescents whom using electronic games were males and at age between (15-16) years and most of them from moderate level of socioeconomic status. They had poor level of psychological status when evaluated, the mean was (1.82).

Conclusion: increase using of video games had negative effect on quality of life (psychological domain).

Recommendation: it’s important to follow up of adolescents quality of life and encourage them to using physical activity and social relationship and decrease using the video games

Key words: Impact, Using electronic games, Psychological domain, Adolescents, Quality of life

Introduction

Video game addiction is an unofficial term used to describe unhealthy, compulsive participation in various forms of video games. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is considering making this condition a diagnosable mental disorder called Internet gaming disorder.⁽¹⁾

Since Internet games became widespread in the 2000s, Internet game usage has experienced rapid growth among both youth and adults. According to a report by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), 155 million Americans play video games, of which 42% play video games regularly. In 2015 alone, American game consumers spent more than US$22.41 billion on game content, hardware, and accessories.⁽²⁾

There are many types of video games, and there are many reasons to play video games. Gaming to avoid negative feelings and gaming for fun or for social reasons should be distinguished. Indeed, “weekday online gaming for more than five hours a day, in combination with an avoidance motivation, was associated with an increased probability of depressive symptoms”, whereas “the probability of ill health decreased when gaming was for fun or had social motives”.⁽³⁾

Adolescence is a period of remarkable psychosocial and neural development. Many life-long health habits are established during adolescence, making it a window of opportunity for health promotion. One way to promote adolescent health is through mass and social media campaigns. Although some health media campaigns that target adolescents are effective in changing health-relevant cognitions and behaviors, there is considerable room for improving these outcomes. Recent advancements combining neuro-imaging tools and health persuasion have suggested key neural mechanisms underlying behavior change and retransmission of health-relevant ideas and norms in adults.⁽⁴⁾

The psychological factors associated with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) need to be understood. IGD can be considered a behavioral addiction and has been found to be related to a number of psychological and health problems, including depression, social anxiety, fatigue, loneliness, negative self-esteem, and impulsivity. IGD co-occurs with various psychiatric conditions and can lead to a range of negative outcomes. For example, IGD can cause social problems such as lower academic achievement. In addition, IGD shares many similarities with other addictions, such as substance use disorder.^(5,6,7)

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) contributes to poor quality of life (QOL) and cognitive dysfunction and is increasingly recognized as a social problem in various countries. However, no evidence exists to determine whether QOL and cognitive dysfunction stabilize after appropriate management. Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is defined as an excessive and prolonged Internet gaming pattern that causes cognitive and behavioral problems and is generally conceptualized as a behavioral addiction that includes core components of addictive behaviors, progressive loss of control over gaming, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. Quality of life (QOL) is associated with a stronger sense of community and better emotional, physical, and material well-being. The patients with IGD show high levels of loneliness, depression, and compulsiveness relative to non addicts, who have relatively low levels of loneliness, depression, and compulsiveness, patients with IGD have poor QOL relative to that of healthy controls (HCs).⁽⁸⁾

In male adolescents, incidence of symptoms of IGD was similar before and after the age of 15. Symptoms of IGD were significantly associated with decreased quality of life in males aged 15 and more, even when adjusting for depression, economic conditions, and parental support, and with a smaller effect in males aged under 15. In female adolescents, incidence of symptoms of IGD was similar before and after the age of 15. It was not significantly associated with decreased quality of life in females under and over 15, when adjusting for depression, age, economic conditions, and parental support.⁽⁹⁾

Methods

Descriptive study design among 300 adolescent whom using electronic games at the at secondary schools. They are selected by using non probability sampling (convenience sample). The researcher communicate with the sample by using Google classroom.

The questionnaire composes of two parts: 1^st sociodemographic characteristics (age gender and socioeconomic status) 2^nd the psychological domain consisted of 9 items constructed to the study objectives by content validity (panel of experts) and Cronbach’s alpha reliability (0.77)

The questionnaire has been scored and rated on three levels likert scale,(3) points for the yes and (2) point for the almost and (1) points for the No. The quality of life assessed by cutoff point (1.00) due to scores (1,2 and 3) respectively:(1-2) = poor level, and (2.01-3) = good level.

There are reverse items in the questionnaire. The psychological life domain includes items (1,2,3,5,6,9). In reverse items (1) points for the yes and (2) point for the almost and (3) points for the No. The data analyses by SPSS version 23

Results

Table (1) distribution of the study sample by their demographic characteristics (n=300)

This table shows that, 71.7% of adolescents using electronic games were males, 55% of them at age (15-16) years, and 57% of mode3rate level of socio economic status

Table (2) distribution of adolescents response to psychological life domain of quality of life

R=reverse, f=frequency, %=percent, MS=mean score, Ass= assessment, P=Poor (1-2), G=Good (2.01-3)

This table shows the adolescent response to the psychological life domain of quality of life, the finding indicate they had poor level of quality of life for all items of this domain.

Table (3) ANOVA for the adolescents age and  their psychological domain of quality of life

There is no significant differences between adolescents age and  their psychological domain quality of life domains

Table (4) ANOVA for the adolescents gender and  their psychological domain of quality of life

There is no significant differences between adolescents gender and their psychological domain of quality of life

Table (5) ANOVA for the adolescents socioeconomic status and  their psychological domain of quality of life

There is no significant differences between adolescents socioeconomic status and psychological domain of quality of life

Discussion

Regarding to adolescent gender in table (1), 71.7% of adolescents using electronic games were males. Dolatabadi, et al., (2013) found that males more than females, 51.6% for male and 48.4 for female.⁽¹⁰⁾ de Oliveira et al., (2017) found that 57% of adolescents were males.⁽¹¹⁾ Dirandeh et al., (2015) found that males more than females this finding in same line of the present study.⁽¹²⁾ Saquib et al., (2017) found that the adolescents gender was 50.7% for male and 49.3 for female.⁽¹³⁾ This finding supported our finding.

Wang et al., (2014) found that 50.5% of the sample were females and 49.5% males this result not consisted with the present study findings.⁽¹⁴⁾

55% of them at age (15-16) years. Dolatabadi, et al., (2013) found that adolescents aged 12-15 years old.⁽¹⁰⁾ Wang et al., (2014) found that adolescents age at mean 14 years old.⁽¹⁴⁾ Dirandeh et al., (2015) found that the mean of adolescents age was 13 years.⁽¹²⁾ This result not consisted with our finding. de Oliveira et al., (2017) found that the average age was 15 years (SD = 1.12, ranging be-tween 14 and 18).⁽¹¹⁾ Saquib et al., (2017) found that the mean of adolescents age was 15.3 years.⁽¹³⁾

Most of adolescent families from moderate level of socioeconomic status. Dolatabadi, et al., (2013) found that The majority of studied population (46.6%) reported the level of their family income as moderate level.⁽¹⁰⁾ Wang et al., (2014) found that 69.1% of boys and 58.4% of girls from medium level of economic status.⁽¹⁴⁾ This findings in same line of the present study result.

In table (2), adolescents had poor level of psychological life domain of quality of life. Most of them were worried, fell lonely, depressed, and very nervous, simple command that frustrates them and fell annoyed and bored. The grand mean of psychological life domain was 1.82 at poor level of assessment (1-2). Saquib et al., (2017) found that 54% of adolescent using video games had psychological distress.⁽¹³⁾ This result in same line of the present study.

Dolatabadi, et al., (2013) found that adolescent had good psychological life quality of life.⁽¹⁰⁾ Dirandeh et al., (2015) found that the behavior and mental status of most of the students were in normal range.⁽¹²⁾ This finding not agree with our finding.

BAŞ (2018) found that there is low self-efficacy, anxiety, low self-esteem, incoordination and shyness were found in adolescents with digital gaming addiction. Game addiction also emerges as a cause of depression, social phobia and anxiety disorder. Gaming addicts were identified as individuals who thought of aggressive behavior, psychological stress, falling in sleep quality and suicidal thoughts and less satisfaction in life. Violent games, especially violent games of adolescents, can lead to psychosocial problems such as aggression, loneliness, depression, tendency towards violence, isolation, lack of attention. This finding in same line of the present study.⁽¹⁵⁾

The results of Wang et al., (2019) revealed that adolescent with mobile game addiction had higher self-reported depression, social anxiety and loneliness.⁽¹⁶⁾ This finding support our study

There is no significant deference between the psychological domain and the adolescents age gender and socio economic status.

Gorji et al., (2019) found that there are significant statistical relationship between adolescents gender and psychological domain of quality of life.⁽¹⁷⁾ This finding not consisted with our finding.

Conclusion

Using of electronic games had effect on the psychological status of adolescent they are fell worried, depressed, lonely, nervous and angry. There is no significant deference between the psychological domain and the adolescents age gender and socio economic status.

Recommendation

All parents need to rationalize children's use of electronic games, provided that the period of their use be from one to two hours a day with the presence of parents. People who play video games, must keep fit and exercise. Encourage leisure time in social activities with family members and friends in the neighborhood

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