Chapter 1

Background of the Study

This study aimed to investigate the effects of addiction to computer games on
mental health of students.

The rise in the use of Internet has led to many changes in our daily life. In
particular , this rise has also led to the rise of online gaming. Online gaming
refers to the video games played over the internet where multiple players are in
different locations around the world. In most cases, online games are freeware
programs that can be used for an unlimited time and available for free.

Today, one can see the impact of computer and video games in politics,
television, popular music and Hollywood. A lot of research is conducted to study
its effect on lifestyle and behavior of the wow powering leveling gamer especially
teenagers. Online game is the most sought leisure activity followed by teenagers
nowadays. Computers play a major role in shaping the future of the teenagers.
Online games surely have an impact on minds of kids. Taking into consideration,
it is positively a great mind exercise and helps teenagers explore many things. It
includes improvement in recursive and proactive thinking,increased sociability
and improved interpretive skills. Some reaserch shows that the teenagers who
play online games are more active and have sharper minds than their other
counterparts. HOWEVER, computers and video games also receive much more
negative criticsm because games are ofteh coined with issue such as mindless
entertainment, enhanced socil recluse, sexism and consumerism. Research
shows that teenagers who play violent video games showed on increased in
EMOTIONAL AROUSAL and a corresponding decrease of activity in brain ares
involving self-control, inhabitation and attention.

Videogames maybe therapeutic for some people, but there are small amount
of people who are negatively affected by online games.
Addiction to computer games affects various dimensions of health and increases
physical problems, mental problems such as anxiety and depression, and also
decreases social functioning disorder. It’s important to be investigated to know
why are computer games addictive, how common is computer game addiction in
teenagers, what are the effect, so we can keep off or treat this problem well.

Video game addiction is defined as impulse control disorder, which does not
involve use of an intoxicating drug and is similar to pathological gambling. Also,
it is also referred to video game overuse, pathological or compulsive use of
computer games and videogames (Greenfield & Young, 2009). Due to excessive
use of computer games there is effect in their personal traits like anxiety,
sensation seeking, neuroticism, and aggression which are the symptoms that a
person is under the development of gaming addiction (Mehroof, M et al. 2010).
Brain is also affected in computer addiction; regions of the brain associated with
cravings in substance abuse also appear to be activated in gaming addicts when
they view images of video games (Ko, C et al. 2010). There are two types of
gaming, “excessive gaming” and “addictive gaming” these two types of gaming is
different from each other; the difference between “excessive gaming and
“addictive gaming” is that two gamers may play for an identical number of hours
each day, but their psychological motivation and the meaning that gaming has
within their lives can be very different. Gaming addiction should be defined by
how much the negatively impacts other areas of life, not by how much time is
spent playing (Griffiths, M et al. 2010). In a volunteer sample, 41% of online
gamers acknowledged that they use gaming as an escape. In the same sample,
7% were viewed as “dependent”. These gamers possessed several behavioural
attributes that are related to more well established forms of addiction (e.g.,
mood modification, tolerance, & relapse) (Hussain et al. 2009). Most online
gamers are male. Among male gamers, more severe online gaming addiction is
correlated with older age, lower self-esteem, and lower dissatisfaction with daily
life. This relationship did not hold true for female gamers(Ko et al. 2005).
Excessive use of technology is relatively rare. Compared to females, males are
more likely to develop a gaming addiction. Boys are more likely to play
aggressive or violent games while girls are more likely to play platform and
puzzle games (Griffiths, 2008). In Germany, 1.5 – 3.5% of teenage internet
users show signs of gaming addiction. Gaming addiction is associated with higher
rates of anxiety and depression, and poorer academic performance (Peukert et
al. 2010). Computer gaming addiction is positively correlated with achievement
motivation, sensation-seeking, a positive evaluation of one’s intelligence, and a
negative evaluation of one’s skills in interpersonal relationship (Zheng et al.
2006). In a sample of German teens, 6.3% of subjects fulfilled the authors’
diagnostic criteria for gaming addiction. These adolescents were mostly male and
had low educational backgrounds (Klaus et al. 2008). Gaming addiction is
negatively associated with academic achievement (Chiu et al. 2004). So far
there are no studies conducted as to the percentage of senior high school
students who are hooked to online games, thus, this study would like to find out
factors why senior high school students are addicted to online games.
 Statement Of The Problem

This study aimed to know the Mental Effects of Online Gaming among students
of ABE International Business College, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

Specifically, this study sought answers to the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1. Age

1.2. Gender

1.3. Educational Status

1.4. Online Games commonly played

1.5. Length of time the respondents play online games

1.6. Length of days the respondents play online games

1.7. Amount of money the respondents spend for online gaming (per day)

2. Is computer game addiction diagnosable disorder?

3. What are the symptoms of computer game addiction?

4. Who is most at risk for computer game addiction?

5. How is computer game addiction treated?

 Significance Of The Study

This research about gaming addiction will be useful because from this research
we can get knowledges about:

 Definition of gaming addiction

 The symptoms of computer game addiction
 The reason why are computer games addictive
 Mental Effects of Online Gaming
 How is computer game addiction treated

This study will be valuable and significant to children, parents, readers and
future researchers.

Children. This study is primarily important to children, for it will give them
information about the mental impacts the may get from online gaming.

Parent. This study will help the parents to have enough knowledge about the
mental impacts of online gaming among their children.

Readers. This study will help the readers to have the understanding about the
mental impact of online gaming.

Future Researchers. This may serve as a basis for future research that they will
conduct.

Scope and Delimitations of The Study

This study was mainly concerned and limited only with the impacts of online
gaming among the teenagers of Abe International Business College, Urdaneta
City, Pangasinan.
To collect the data to support this research, I will make the survey that will be
answered by the students of ABE that likes playing video game.
 Theoretical Framework
Psychological Effects of Online Gaming On Individuals.

Research repeatedly finds evidence that computer games can be addictive

and have negative effects on mental and physical health. Some benefits can be
noted, in terms of improved hand and eye coordination, for example, but there is
a dark side, too, and maybe the health costs outweigh the benefits.

Research from the University of Medical Science at Kerman, Iran, adds to the
growing body of evidence that computer games do affect the mental and
physical health of students.

In a study of 564 students at public guidance schools in Isfahan, the researchers

(Eshrat Zamani, Maliheh Chashmi, and Nasim Hedayati) found evidence of
impaired social functioning, sleeplessness and anxiety among those habitually
playing computer games.

Computer games provide the thrill of winning and achieving new levels, a sense
of wellbeing and growing proficiency in meeting the challenge of the games.
They stimulate the emotions as the player experiences anger and frustration,
triumph, aggression and a rush of adrenaline that can become addictive. A game
clicks over from being an entertaining diversion to being an addiction when the
player begins to neglect other normal functions of life in order to keep on playing
or finds that they experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability when they
have not had a fix. Risk behaviours such as getting into debt, ignoring
responsibility or depriving oneself of sleep are also characteristic of addictions.

Sitting in front of a computer screen and playing games has a number of effects
that can account for the findings of the research.

Social Isolation
Most computer games are played alone. Instead of interacting with their peers
and growing social skills, players are interacting with a machine and giving
increasing amounts of time to gaming activity.

Physical Effects
Sitting in one position for a prolongued period affects posture and the muscular-
skeletal system, leading to reported aches and pains. Neglecting normal diet and
hygiene in order to give more time to playing computer games can also cause
reported physical symptoms.
Stress
Playing computer games constantly invokes the sympathetic nervous system,
heart and respiration rates increase and players report feelings of anxiety while
gaming. It is stressful for the human fight/flight response to be constantly
aroused by the simulation of danger that many games rely on.

It is common sense to say that it can’t be healthy to spend hours at a time

playing computer games, but this point of view appear to be increasingly
supported by scientific findings.

Source:
Zamani et al (2009) “Effect of Addiction to Computer Games on Physical and
Mental Health of Female and Male Students of Guidance School in City of
Isfahan” in Addiction and Health vol 1, no 2. P.98-105.
Definitions Of Term
For clearer understanding of the work, the following terms were defined:
Advantage. A benefit or gain
Disadvantage. an unfavorable circumstance or condition that reduces the
chances of success or effectiveness.
Impact. The powerful or dramatic effect that something or somebody has.
Internet. An electronic communication network that connects computer
network and organizational computer facilities around the world.
Online Game. Game that can be run from an internet browser and requires the
internet connection.
Technology. The practical application of knowledge especially in a particular
area.
Mental. relating to the mind. relating to disorders of the mind.
Effect. a change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause..
Arousal. to stir to action or strong response.
Symptoms a physical or mental feature that is regarded as indicating a
condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient.
MENTAL EFFECTS
OF ONLINE
GAMING
TO SELECTED
STUDENTS OF ABE
(Research Paper)