Long-term impact of excessive gaming on teens revealed in landmark study

IGD is a behavioural condition where excessive gaming leads to significant problems in a young person’s daily life, including school, relationships and mental health.

The research by Nottingham Trent University in the UK, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and RMIT University, Melbourne, followed more than 800 children in Norway from age 10 to 18.

Findings showed that by age 18, 10 per cent of boys and nearly two per cent of girls had met the criteria for IGD at least once.

Although the overall rate of IGD at any single point in time was relatively low at between one and two per cent, the cumulative risk was far higher for boys. Boys were three to five times more likely than girls to be affected, but the research also found that when girls did develop symptoms, the negative consequences were just as severe.

Researchers used face-to-face clinical interviews based on international diagnostic criteria and assessed symptoms of internet gaming disorder at five points over eight years, resulting in more than 3,200 observations.

To ensure a representative sample, children with a range of emotional and behavioural backgrounds were included, and the results were weighted to reflect the wider population.

Advanced statistical modelling was then used to analyse how gaming behaviours developed and changed over time.

The study, published in Addiction, identified two main types of symptoms: “heavy involvement” in gaming, such as preoccupation and difficulty controlling play, and “negative consequences”, including loss of interest in other activities and problems at school or with relationships.

Heavy involvement increased steadily from age 10 - peaking in mid-adolescence - before dropping sharply at 18, while negative consequences remained stable throughout the teenage years.

IGD symptoms at age 10 were only weakly related to symptoms in later adolescence, suggesting that early signs often subside naturally.

However, from age 12 onwards, increases in heavy involvement predicted a greater risk of negative consequences later on, suggesting that early adolescence is a key window for prevention.

Dr Daria Kuss, co-author and Associate Professor of Psychology at NTU's School of Social Sciences, said: “This seminal study provides one of the most detailed pictures yet of how gaming disorder emerges and evolves during adolescence.

“While most young people game without harm, a significant minority are at risk of developing patterns of play that can disrupt their lives, education, and wellbeing.

“Our findings underscore the importance of early, age-appropriate interventions to prevent internet gaming disorder from taking hold during the critical teenage years.”

Lead author, Professor Lars Wichstrøm, from Norwegian University of Science and Technology, said: “Early adolescence offers a real opportunity to intervene before gaming habits become entrenched and harder to change.

“We recommend that parents, schools, and health professionals focus on reducing excessive gaming in early adolescence, rather than waiting for more serious problems to emerge. Both boys and girls who show signs of problematic gaming should be offered support, as the risks are real for both.”

The paper, Structure and stability of internet gaming disorder from childhood to late adolescence: A 5-wave birth cohort study, can be read online.

Find out more about the Cyberpsychology Research Group at NTU