Problematic gaming is associated with some health-related behaviors among Finnish vocational school students

• Main Authors: Männikkö, N. (Niko), Ruotsalainen, H. (Heidi), Tolvanen, A. (Asko), Kääriäinen, M. (Maria)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Nature 2020
• Subjects: Gaming disorder; Health; Video games; Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi-fe202002276770

Abstract 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. Eighty-four 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.