ASSOCIATION OF INTERNET GAMING ADDICTION WITH INDICATORS OF DEPRESSION ON THE HADS SCALE AMONG MEDICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

In recent years advances in gaming technology and a significant increase in Internet connection speeds have made online games more attractive and accessible. According to the available literature, excessive involvement in this type of Internet content can lead to stress, depression, anxiety, personal problems and a significant risk of suicidal behavior. Numerous studies have reported high rates of depression among medical students worldwide, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to its formation. Purpose. To establish relationships between indicators of depression, determined by the HADS questionnaire, and Internet gaming addiction among students studying at a medical university. Materials and methods. The survey involved 244 boys and girls studying in the 3rd year of medical university. The presence of Internet gaming addiction, as well as the identification of depressive disorders with an assessment of the degree of their severity, was established using the Russian-language versions of the Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents (GASA) and The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. Results. According to the data obtained, the presence of Internet gaming addiction was identified in 7,4% of the examined students. Among the surveyed male students, this type of Internet addictive behavior was more common (10,6%) compared to female students (6,2%). Indicators of depression of varying severity, determined by the HADS questionnaire, were identified in 16,0% of the examined students. Moreover, among female students the frequency of identified depression was higher (17,4%) compared to male students (12,1%). It was found that more than half of students with depressive disorders (55,6%) suffered from Internet gaming addiction. It was noted that the number of patients with depressive disorders in combination with this type of Internet addictive behavior was higher in comparison with persons without Internet gaming addiction, both among male students (57,1% vs 42,9%), and among girls (54,5% vs 45,5%), respectively. Conclusion. Relationships have been established between indicators of depression, determined by the HADS questionnaire, and Internet gaming addiction among students studying at a medical university.