Abstract
Today, video game addiction is affecting many people. The increase in video game addiction is caused by the rapid growth in technology and the advancement of video games. This paper has outlined some problems associated with video game addiction, including money wastage, negative behaviors, and causing relationship issues, and divorce. Also, the report has described four proposed solutions for video game addiction: public health approaches and playing video games with spouses. The other solutions presented in this paper are counseling by psychologists who are experts in dealing with video game addiction and developing daily routines and schedules.
Introduction
With the rapid increases in the use of technology and the internet, video gaming is increasing, especially among the youth and children. As the gaming industry keeps evolving, games are becoming more advanced. Also, animation technology has grown to the extent of hyper-realism. Although video games are not substances, they can be addictive, just like gambling. Video gaming addiction can lead to problems like money wastage, relationship problems and divorce, and negative behaviors, and the problems can be solved through; public health approaches, involving spouses while playing video games, counseling, and developing daily routines, among others.
Problem statement
Video game addiction refers to a condition characterized by reduced control over habits associated with gaming, which leads to negative impacts in various life aspects, such as self-care, school, work, and relationships (Grinspoon, 2020).
Video game addiction can lead to the following:
Wastage of money
Today, video games use marketing and psychological theory principles to attract and retain players. With the advent of “in-game purchases” and “free-to-play,” players can spend excess money (Faust & Prochaska, 2018). Also, with the increase of virtual reality video games offered at reduced prices, many gamers are joining virtual levels.
Relationship Problems and Divorce
Most video gamers play with different people online, which can make them spend less time with their spouses. Spending all their free time in video games frequently may result in friction between video gamers and their spouses, especially if the spouses are non-gamers (Jones, 2022). Excessive playing of video games disrupts the couple’s routines, which can break a relationship.
Negative behaviors
Video game addiction can also lead to negative behaviors like aggression and drug use (Faust & Prochaska, 2018). Tobacco, for example, is used in a majority of video games. Tobacco exposure to video games may increase smoking behaviors among gamers. Faust & Prochaska (2018) also explain that video game addiction can promote risks of aggressive feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
Proposed solutions
Public health approaches
Considering the significant video gaming market, there is a need to develop public health approaches to prevent video game addiction (Arora, 2022). For example, education can alert users, their families, or spouses to the importance of moderating and monitoring game content and gameplay. Users can also be educated on how to pay attention to the development of video gaming symptoms. Video gaming companies should provide resources and information for video game addiction, just like many casinos do.
Gaming together as a couple or engaging in other leisure activities
Where only one individual in a relationship or a marriage plays video games, the gamer can teach the non-gamer how to play, and they can play together. According to Jones (2022), gaming positively affects marital relationships when the two spouses play. In this case, relating to a game has similar benefits to one-on-one interactions. Couples who game together are highly likely to remain together compared to those who do not, which results in lower divorce risk (Jones, 2022). The couple can choose other leisure activities if the non-gaming spouse is not willing to learn and engage in gaming. In this case, the gaming spouse has to compromise and sacrifice most of their leisure time to have fun with the other spouse rather than gaming all the time.
Counseling
One-on-one counseling with a psychologist can also help deal with video game addiction (Urban & Lorenz, 2022). The counseling psychologist should be an expert in dealing with video game addiction. However, video game addiction experts are rare, but one can benefit if they find a qualified and affordable one near their residential areas.
Developing daily routines and schedules
Incorporating routines and schedules is among the healthiest ways of preventing video game addiction (Urban & Lorenz, 2022). The schedules should be engaging, educative, and fun. Schedules offer a sense of life direction and make a person’s life meaningful. Making schedules for individuals addicted to online gaming can make them more disciplined and responsible since they know the activities to engage in at a specific time. Moreover, schedules promote self-control and positive behaviors.
Conclusion
Video game addiction refers to a condition characterized by reduced control over habits associated with gaming, leading to negative impacts in different life aspects. Video game addiction can lead to excessive use and wastage of money since the marketing strategies are manipulative, which makes users continue paying to play more. Besides, video game addiction can result in relationship problems and divorce since excessive gaming may make one spend less time with their spouse. Moreover, individuals who are addicted to video games are susceptible to negative behaviors like drug abuse and aggression. Among the proposed solutions for video game addiction are public health approaches, which may involve creating awareness of the effects of video game addiction. Gaming spouses can also involve their non-gaming spouses in video games so they can play together or choose other leisure activities to engage in. Moreover, counseling and developing daily schedules and routines can be used to control video game addiction.
References
Arora, N. (February 19, 2022). 6 Proven Solutions to Video Game Addiction In Kids https://www.piggyride.com/blog/6-proven-solutions-to-video-game-addiction-in-kids/
Faust, K. A., & Prochaska, J. J. (2018). Internet gaming disorder: A sign of the times, or time for our attention?
Grinspoon, P. (December 22, 2020). The Health Effects of too Much Gaming https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-health-effects-of-too-much-gaming-2020122221645
Jones, G. (July 12, 2022). How Video Games Impact Marriage and Divorce https://www.goldbergjones-sandiego.com/divorce/video-games-impact-divorce/#:~:text=Excessive%20video%20game%20play%20leads,where%20spouses%20play%20different%20games.
Urban, L. & Lorenz, M. (August 27, 2022). How to End Video Game Addiction https://www.wikihow.com/End-a-Video-Game-Addiction
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