The use of video games in adolescents. A Public Health problema

Abstract

Introduction: The excessive use of videogames has increased dramatically, especially among 10-to-19- year-old males. Many teenagers lose control over video games, which may have negative consequences such as pathological, problematic, or addictive gaming. Objectives: Knowing the existing scientific production about the problematic use of video games and video games addiction in teenagers. Methodology: Documents found after a bibliographic search in the databases COCHRANE, MEDLINE, LILACS, CINAHL and CUIDEN have been analyzed. Results: It has been defined the predictive factors, the prevalence, the characteristics, the validated questionnaires, the associations with other addictions, the relations with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), and prevention of problematic use and addiction to video games. Conclusions: There are inconsistencies in the results due to the transversal design of most of the studies, such as small samples, the absence of clinical or randomized samples, data extraction with self-reporting questionnaires conducted in schools, without taking into account adolescents hospitalized into mental health centers or hospitals, the gender bias in research and the lack of standardization of diagnostic criteria. The least studied subject is the treatment and prevention, the most important for nursing profession, so the future main line of research would be in this area.