Thousands of teens require ‘intervention’ on gaming addiction

A new study has found around 10 per cent of teenagers have a “problem” with video gaming, and a further 3 per cent have a serious addiction that requires intervention.

The research, conducted by Macquarie University, looked at around 1000 teenagers and found in extreme cases too much gaming can lead to serious behavioural issues.

Developmental Psychologist, Associate Professor Wayne Warburton, said there were a number of factors that led to gaming addiction.

“There’s often a problem when there are two things in the child’s life,” he told 3AW Breakfast.

“The first is that they often have a little difficulty with impulsivity and self-control.

“But also, the stuff that they do online meets needs that don’t seem to being met offline.”

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Meanwhile, Kim Le, a child and adolescent psychiatrist who specialises in video game addiction, told Dee Dee in some cases gaming addiction was also taking a toll physically.

“I’m seeing children who are playing mobile games for so long they’re developing head, neck and spine pain,” he said on 3AW Afternoons.

“They have to lie on their back every half-hour, and they get such severe headaches they bang their head against the wall and it feels like they want to take their own life.”

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