Problematic Gaming Is Associated with Some Health-Related Behaviors Among Finnish Vocational School Students

• Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
• Main Authors: Männikkö, Niko, Ruotsalainen, Heidi, Tolvanen, Asko, Kääriäinen, Maria
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer New York LLC 2020
• Subjects: gaming disorder; videopelit; ammattikoululaiset; terveyskäyttäytyminen; terveys; Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202008315682

The objective of this work was to examine the connections between problematic digital gaming and various health-related behavior characteristics in a population of vocational school students. Data collection was performed (N = 1335) via an online survey in vocational school units in northern Finland. The survey incorporated the Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD10) as well as self-reported measures including questions on socio-demographics, information on the living arrangements of participants, gaming habits, and health-related behaviors. Eightyfour percent (n = 773) of the respondents (an average age of 17.5 years [SD = 4.4]) played digital games regularly. Male gender, daily game use, having no close friends, self-perceived underweight status and monthly drug use were all significantly and positively associated with problematic gaming scores. Engagement in digital game playing was especially associated with participants who lived with a friend or friends or in a blended family structure engagement. These findings have implications for counselors and researchers working on the health-related behaviors of vocational school students. peerReviewed