Dubai: Video games can have beneficial effects if played in moderation but, if not regulated, could become an addiction.
Madeeha Afridi, Counselling Psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia in Dubai, said that because research in this field is not as in-depth and extensive as psychological research on alcoholism or drug use, there are still conflicting results.
“Some studies show that a healthy dose of video gaming can be effective for children because it is helpful in the development of the brain’s frontal lobe, which is the part of the brain used for executive functioning, planning and making informed decisions,” she said.
Similar studies report that playing video games from an early age can help children in their cognitive functioning, and areas of the brain that help the child’s working memory and regulate their thoughts and behaviours which, such studies report, can assist with academic success.
There is also evidence that gaming regularly has an impact on the parts of the brain related to emotional regulation, focus, and control of impulses. “This could mean that because of the impact on the prefrontal cortex of the brain, those individuals are more easily triggered, angered, and/or may have difficulties in concentration and focus,” Afridi said.
These reports, she said, are consistent with cases of gamers who she counsels at the centre.
Some of the people she works with are unable to cope and manage with daily life due to their video game habits. “I have worked with cases where children are playing over 12 hours a day, staying up all night, and unable to go to school.”
Their gaming habits lead to emotional decline, social exclusion, physical ailments such as weight gain, skin issues, and hair loss — usually a manifestation of their emotional imbalances.
The release of dopamine in the brain, also known as the “feel good” chemical, when gaming because of the excitement, is considered by some researchers to contribute to chances of addiction.
This does not mean that parents should prevent their children from gaming but they should, instead, regulate the hours allowed.
How to quit?
Studies show that young males aged between 12-20 are the group most likely to be at risk of developing an addiction to video gaming, but adults also can become addicted.
Afridi said that studies show if one spends over 10 hours a week gaming, they could be at risk.
However, she said, in her view, it takes less than 10 hours a week for gamers to begin exhibiting symptoms related to video game or technology addiction.
What should parents do?
1) Gradually decrease the hours the child is allowed to play video games. “It is usually not effective when parents take away gaming completely because the child gets into a struggle and, like most addictions, goes through withdrawal symptoms,” Afridi said.
2) Find alternatives the child can spend the time on
“Each child and family setting is unique, so I always tell families that one rule does not apply to all. There is an extensive list of resources on the web for parents whose children are addicted to gaming, and with these resources parents can get specific ideas on how to have their child regulate their gaming habit,” she said.
3) Adults who get addicted need to follow the same approach, by gradually decreasing their time spent on gaming, and find other things to do in that time.
“An adult gamer may ask their friend to check in with them daily, to see how they are doing with their goal. Just as for children, there are resources online for adults to help them overcome their addiction to gaming,” Afridi said.
Video games and gender issues
Males are more prone to developing an addiction to gaming, because most video games are built on stereotypical male interests such as guns, violence, fast cars, females dressed in provocative attire, and military themes.
Afridi said that because of video games’ recreational nature, culturally, there has been a tendency for boys to game together more than girls “Females choose to spend their time socialising in other ways such as on social media. Some are into gaming, however, it has not been the norm.”
But she said this may be changing “as marketers have caught up with how much time youth, male and female, spend on technology”.
