Gaming Activity and Possible Changes in Gaming Behavior Among Young People During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Online Survey Study

Abstract

Background Young people’s daily lives and social interactions changed remarkably during the COVID-19 pandemic as schools and cinemas closed, leisure activities were cancelled, and gatherings were regulated. Questions have been raised by the media, schools, policy makers, and research communities about the effect on young people’s online behaviors. Objective This cross-sectional study aimed to study self-reported changes in gaming, focusing on a younger section of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. We also wanted to look at potential risk factors behind problematic gaming during the pandemic, including gaming patterns, gambling behavior, psychological distress, certain sociodemographic characteristics, health factors, and school situation. Methods This was an anonymous online survey study of web panel participants in Sweden (n=1501) to study changes in gaming behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-reported increases in gaming were analyzed in logistic regression analyses against sociodemographic and health factors. Results Within the study population that reported changes in gaming activity, we found significant differences in age, employment status, disposable income, whether they ever played on loot boxes, time spent at home, school attendance, psychological distress, and gambling and gaming problems, as well as significant differences in changes in alcohol consumption and exercise habits. When examining the 16–24-year-old age group who reported changes in gaming activity, we found significant differences within the group in disposable income, time at home, and school attendance. When examining the 25–39-year-old age group who reported changes in gaming activity, we found significant differences within the group in employment status, disposable income, time spent at home, whether the respondents were studying, school attendance level, psychological distress, and gaming problems, as well as significant differences in changes in alcohol consumption and exercise habits. Psychological distress (all age groups analyzed together; 25–39-year-old age group), drinking less alcohol (all age groups analyzed together), spending more time at home (all age groups analyzed together), gaming problems, and exercising less (25–39-year-old age group) were positively correlated with a self-reported increase in gaming activity. Being employed (25–39-year-old age group) and being over 40 years of age (all age groups analyzed together) were negatively correlated with increased gaming. We found no significant correlations in the 16–24-year-old age group. Conclusions Those who reported increased gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to be 16 years to 39 years old. In the age group of 25 years to 39 years old, the increase was associated with psychological distress, reporting less exercise, and being unemployed. COVID-19 may present as a risk factor of increased online gaming in a small but vulnerable group. More research and preferably longitudinal studies are needed in the field of gaming and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of screen time changes on anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic: sleep and physical activity as mediators

“…However, since young adults tend to have the highest rates of screen time and smartphone usage, this group is also the primary population investigated in studies of screen time [75]. Our study is consistent with recent studies related to screen time in terms of sample composition [76,77]. Moreover, to reduce the potential influence of this selection bias, we applied covariance analysis in the model to control the effect of age, gender, and occupation.…”

The Effects of Playing Video Games on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Loneliness, and Gaming Disorder During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: PRISMA Systematic Review

“…88 The 11 studies conducted on children and adolescent GD were associated with: age (i.e., being adolescent), 79,82,89 gender (i.e., being male), [82][83][84]86,[89][90][91][92] maladaptive coping regulatory styles, 86 poor social support, 83,86,89 depressive and anxiety symptoms before the COVID-19 pandemic, 76,92 poor mental health, 83 academic stress, 86 unhealthy parental care styles, [81][82][83] addictive gamer profile, 90,91 and excessive use of social networks. 84 With regard to adults, eight studies showed an increased risk of developing GD symptoms in association with age (i.e., being younger than 30 years), 77,79 gender (i.e., being male), 79,87 loneliness, 79,93 maladaptive self-regulation style, 79,88 high impulsivity, 79 depressive and anxiety symptoms before the COVID-19 pandemic, 79 psychological distress, 88,94 low physical activity, 79,94 being unemployed, 94 and being affected by COVID-19. 77 Another two studies reported no significant association between the prevalence of GD and anxiety 85 or being self-isolated or quarantined.…”

“…In line with what was observed in previous studies, [122][123][124] in the present systematic review, gender and age differences with regard to GD emerged: potentially problematic gaming symptoms were found to be more likely among males than females 79,87 and among younger gamers. 77,79,82,89 Furthermore, high levels of loneliness and poor social support, 79,83,86,89,93 maladaptive coping regulatory styles, 86,88 and depressive and anxiety symptoms 76,79,83,88,92,94 resulted in risk factors for GD in both young people and adults. Such results support what was reported by previous studies, in which these factors were indicated as risk elements for problematic gaming.…”

“…[81][82][83] Other risk factors among youth were found to be the addictive gamer profile, 91 academic stress, 86 and excessive use of social networks. 84 Finally, regarding young and middle-aged adults, a greater risk of developing GD symptoms has been observed in individuals reporting low physical activity, 79,94 unemployed, 94 and had been affected by COVID-19. 77 Instead, two studies reported no significant association between the prevalence of GD and anxiety 85 or being self-isolated or quarantined.…”

Internet use and internet-based addictive behaviours during coronavirus pandemic

“…The frequency of online gaming and social media use (SMU) and screen times significantly increased during the lockdown in a representative sample of 1221 adolescents (10–17 years) [32]. Online gaming increased in Indian college students [33] and Malaysian medical students [34], 1501 web panel Swedish participants (25–39 years) and was associated with psychological distress, reduced physical activity, and unemployment [35] in an online international cross-sectional study among adults [1 ▪ ]. IGD increased in the general population, especially younger people in a Japanese study [7 ▪ ].…”