TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of gaming addiction and its impact on sleep quality
T2 - A cross-sectional study from Pakistan
AU - Zaman, Musharaf
AU - Babar, Muhammad Saad
AU - Babar, Maryam
AU - Sabir, Faheem
AU - Ashraf, Farzana
AU - Tahir, Muhammad Junaid
AU - Ullah, Irfan
AU - Griffiths, Mark D.
AU - Lin, Chung Ying
AU - Pakpour, Amir H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - Background: Gaming addiction has become a topic of increasing research interest worldwide but little research has been carried out in Pakistan. Aims: The present study assessed the prevalence of gaming addiction among a Pakistani sample of adults in the general population. It also explored the effects of online gaming addiction upon sleep quality. Method: A cross-sectional survey was carried out during a national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. Using a convenience sampling technique, an online survey comprising demographic information, the Game Addiction Scale (GAS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was completed by 618 participants (67.5% male) aged 18–56 years (M = 24.53 years, SD = ±5.016). Results: Out of 618 participants, 57.0% (n=352) played online games. Among gamers, 12.5% (n = 44) were classed as addicted to the gaming based on GAS scores. Compared to those not addicted to gaming, participants with gaming addiction had significantly poorer subjective sleep quality, higher sleep disturbance, lesser sleep duration, and higher daytime dysfunction. Gaming addiction was also more prevalent among males compared to females. Conclusion: Gaming addiction among the Pakistani general population is significantly associated with poor sleep quality. This problem needs to be addressed at both individual and societal levels to avoid adverse long-term health impacts.
AB - Background: Gaming addiction has become a topic of increasing research interest worldwide but little research has been carried out in Pakistan. Aims: The present study assessed the prevalence of gaming addiction among a Pakistani sample of adults in the general population. It also explored the effects of online gaming addiction upon sleep quality. Method: A cross-sectional survey was carried out during a national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. Using a convenience sampling technique, an online survey comprising demographic information, the Game Addiction Scale (GAS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was completed by 618 participants (67.5% male) aged 18–56 years (M = 24.53 years, SD = ±5.016). Results: Out of 618 participants, 57.0% (n=352) played online games. Among gamers, 12.5% (n = 44) were classed as addicted to the gaming based on GAS scores. Compared to those not addicted to gaming, participants with gaming addiction had significantly poorer subjective sleep quality, higher sleep disturbance, lesser sleep duration, and higher daytime dysfunction. Gaming addiction was also more prevalent among males compared to females. Conclusion: Gaming addiction among the Pakistani general population is significantly associated with poor sleep quality. This problem needs to be addressed at both individual and societal levels to avoid adverse long-term health impacts.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130618522&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85130618522&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103641
DO - 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103641
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85130618522
SN - 2049-0801
VL - 78
JO - Annals of Medicine and Surgery
JF - Annals of Medicine and Surgery
M1 - 103641
ER -