Impact of Excessive Gaming on Children's Mental, Social, and Academic Well-being
A groundbreaking study from Hong Kong links binge gaming in children to increased risks of mental health issues, social challenges, and academic difficulties, highlighting gender differences and the need for targeted interventions.
Recent research from Hong Kong highlights the significant association between binge gaming and adverse outcomes in children and adolescents. The study, titled "The roles of binge gaming in social, academic, and mental health outcomes and gender differences," surveyed 2,592 students from primary and secondary schools to analyze how prolonged internet gaming influences youth.
The findings reveal that approximately 31.7% of participants engaged in binge gaming, defined as playing internet games for five or more consecutive hours within the past month. Notably, 38.3% of boys and 24.0% of girls reported engaging in such gaming behavior. While boys exhibited fewer issues with sleep quality compared to girls (58.6% vs. 65.5%), there were no significant gender differences in reports of depression, anxiety, or stress beyond mild levels.
Binge gaming among boys was linked to higher levels of internet gaming disorder (IGD), depression, anxiety, stress, and poorer sleep, even after accounting for age and gaming duration. In girls, binge gaming correlated with increased depression, anxiety, loneliness, and decreased educational self-efficacy, social support, and sleep quality. Non-binge gamers generally reported fewer mental health issues and higher self-efficacy, with girls also experiencing less depression and loneliness.
These results suggest that binge gaming might serve as a behavioral indicator for potential social, academic, and health risks in youth. Interestingly, female binge gamers reported greater loneliness and less social support, emphasizing gender-specific impacts.
The researchers recommend targeted prevention strategies, including early identification of binge-gaming behaviors—beyond just hours spent gaming—and the development of tailored psychosocial interventions. Overall, the study underscores the importance of monitoring gaming patterns to promote healthier social and mental development among children and adolescents.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-binge-gaming-kids-adverse-mental.html
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