Health Outcomes of Information System Use Lifestyles among Adolescents: Videogame Addiction, Sleep Curtailment and Cardio-Metabolic Deficiencies

Abstract

Background and ObjectiveObesity is a rising problem among adolescents in modern societies; it results in long-term cardio-metabolic problems. Possible overlooked drivers of obesity and its consequent cardio-metabolic deficits include videogame addiction and the resulting curtailed sleep; both are growing problems among adolescents. The objective of this study is to examine possible associations among these concepts in adolescents, as a means to point to plausible interventions.MethodsData were collected from 94 adolescents who play videogames and are enrolled in outpatient clinics, using surveys, wearable sleep monitors (FitBit), physical exams, and blood tests at three points in time. These data were subjected to structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses and bootstrapping-based mediation testing procedures.ResultsVideogame addiction among adolescents was negatively associated with sleep duration (β = -0.24). Sleep duration was negatively associated with obesity (β = -0.30), which in turn was associated with elevated blood pressure (β = 0.26), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β = -0.18), high triglycerides (β = 0.61), and high insulin resistance (β = 0.39). The model explained 36.2% of the variation in sleep duration, 32.7% of the variation in obesity, and between 12.8% and 28.1% of the variation in cardio-metabolic indicators. Post-hoc analyses indicated that curtailed sleep is a possible full mediator of the association between videogame addiction, abdominal obesity and the associated cardio-metabolic deficits.ConclusionThe findings point to possible information systems use lifestyle-health links, which behooves researchers and practitioners to pay closer attention to possible adverse health outcomes of technology-related addictions. Interventions that target problematic video-gaming and sleep should be devised as a possible means for improving adolescents’ long-term cardio-metabolic health.

Neural Basis of Video Gaming: A Systematic Review

“…(e.g., Ivarsson et al, 2013; Turel et al, 2016). Moreover, VGs possess a series of intrinsic features which make them suitable for use in experimental procedures: they seem to increase participants' motivation better than tasks traditionally used in neuropsychology (e.g., Lohse et al, 2013) and, in the case of purpose-made VGs, they offer a higher degree of control over the in-game variables.…”

Brain anatomy alterations associated with Social Networking Site (SNS) addiction

“…While the negative outcomes of such addictions may not always be as devastating as those generated by severe substance addictions, they attack the vulnerable population of adolescents and young-adults45 and can have a myriad of negative effects on individuals’ work, school and social functioning, wellbeing and psychological states2, as well as on their sleep hygiene and long-term cardio-metabolic health5. Therefore, these addictions have been recognized as an important topic that merits further research6 and the fifth edition of diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders has included the concept of “Internet Gaming Disorder” in the appendix (section 3, potential disorders requiring further research)7.…”

Affecting Factors and the Intervention of Internet Gaming Addiction for Adolescence

“…)；还会影响玩家的身体健康，如造成幻听，手腕疼痛，颈部疼痛，腕 部综合征，影响睡眠，导致肥胖 (Scharrer & Zeller, 2014;Turel, Romashkin, & Morrison, 2016;Williams, Yee, & Caplan, 2008;Wolfe et al, 2014 …”