The risk of developing gaming addiction – significant gender differences among young people

A new study from Jönköping University (JU) and Region Jönköping County shows that nearly 30 per cent of Swedish young people are at risk of developing gaming addiction, with a marked difference between the sexes.

“The results show that long gaming sessions are the strongest common risk factor for both girls and boys in developing gaming addiction, but that is where the similarities end,” says Gunilla Björling, professor at the School of Health and Welfare in Jönköping and one of the researchers behind the study.

Gaming addiction is a growing global problem. That is why the research team studied over 5,300 young people aged 15–17 in Jönköping County through the 2023 Public Health Survey for Young People and used the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) for the first time among Swedish school youth.

The study showed that nearly 44 per cent of boys were at risk and nearly 12 per cent of girls. Boys also play twice as much as girls, but girls and boys have different risk factors.

“We were surprised to see such clear gender differences in risk patterns. In addition to long gaming hours, the strongest risk factor for gaming addiction in boys was poorer mental well-being, while in girls it was low physical activity,” says Gunilla Björling.

Gender-specific strategies important for preventing gaming addiction

Previous research has often treated young people as a homogeneous group, but this study shows that gender-specific strategies are crucial for preventing gaming addiction in the future.

“By highlighting the differences between boys and girls, the study shows how preventive measures can be tailored – for example, by strengthening mental well-being in boys and encouraging physical activity among girls,” says Gunilla Björling.

The researchers believe that schools and healthcare providers should take advantage of the study to prevent gaming addiction among young people.

"For boys, the focus should be on strengthening mental well-being, for example through counselling, stress management and social activities. For girls, initiatives that promote physical activity – such as exercise breaks, sports programmes and active leisure time – should be used to prevent gaming addiction,” says Amir Pakpour, professor at the School of Health and Welfare in Jönköping and lead researcher for the study.

The Gaming Disorder Test is a short and easy-to-use test with only four questions, making it well suited for testing young people in school environments. The test makes it possible to identify young people at risk of gaming addiction at an early stage and to take preventive measures before the problems worsen.

“What makes the GDT so valuable is that it is simple, quick and based directly on the WHO's definition of gaming addiction. International studies show that the test is very reliable and works well for young people in different countries. This makes it a perfect tool for early detection of young people at risk of developing gaming problems,” says Amir Pakpour.

Mental health and lifestyle play a major role

In the study, the young people were asked questions about their health and lifestyle, such as sleep, physical activity, well-being and self-esteem. They were also asked questions about how long they played. The researchers then used various statistical methods to analyse the responses.

"It was surprising that self-esteem and sleep had no significant link to gambling addiction, even though many previous studies have pointed to this. The results suggest that young people's mental health and lifestyle habits play a greater role than traditional psychological factors," says Gunilla Björling.

The article is published in the scientific journal Comprehensive Psychiatry. External link, opens in new window.