Game Addiction Behavior and Impacts of Game Addiction in Secondary and High School Students in Khon Kaen Municipality

Abstract

The study aimed to describe the game addiction behaviors and to determine influencing factors on game playing behaviors and impacts of game playing behaviors on study, health, and social among students in secondary and high school in Khon Kaen municipality. Data was gathered in 2020 from 513 students enrolled in grades 7-12 selected through multi-stage random sampling technique. The instrument was a questionnaire consisted of four parts: 1) sample characteristics, 2) computer use, 3) gaming playing and its impacts, and 4) game addiction from the Game Addiction Screening Test (GAST). The data were analyzed using Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analyses. Findings showed that most of the students did not have game addiction behaviors (44.1%) followed by starting to have game addiction behaviors (17.7%) and having game addiction behaviors (10.5%). The samples reported having impacts of game addictions on health (74.6%), learning (44.5%), and social (22.7%). Frequency of game playing significantly predicted game playing behaviors with the Odds ratio (OR) of 2.45 (95% CI=1.79-3.34). Problematic game playing behaviors also significantly predicted health problems (OR=3.86, 95% CI=2.16-6.89), learning problems (OR=3.48, 95% CI=2.31-5.28) and social problems (OR=5.37, 95% CI=3.44-8.40) at p<0.05. Findings demonstrated that game playing behaviors among secondary and high school students in the city area impacted both health and learning problems. The result can be utilized for developing program to reduce impact of game playing behaviors. According to findings, the implication should be created in schools by providing intervention for reducing game playing to students and parents.