Video games and mental health

Researchers from the University of Iowa have been studying the effects of video games on children in Singapore. The researchers surveyed 3,034 children between years 3 and 8 every year between 2007 and 2009. 83% of the children in the study played video games and the average time spent playing was between 20.5 and 22.5 hours a week. 9% of the children were classifiied as being addicted to video games. Playing games for more than 30 hours a week, lack of social competence, less-than-average empathy and greater impulsivity all contributed to the addiction. The children who were more addicted to the games were more likely to become anxious and depressed, to develop social phobias and to peform poorly at school.