Factors Associated with Games Addiction among Internet Game Players Visiting Internet Gaming Cafes in Northern Sumatera

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of teenagers experiencing addiction game Indonesia continued to increase. AIM: Study aimed to investigate factors associated with game addiction among internet game players visiting internet gaming cafes using Indonesian version the Game Addiction Scale (GAS) score. METHODS: Cross-sectional was conducted from November to December 2020 at an internet gaming cafe in the Tanjung Sari village, Medan city. The study subjects were online game players at four internet gaming cafes. A structured interview was conducted on online game players before being assigned to fill out identity and answer the Indonesian version of the GAS questionnaire. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Age, number of playing game mates, daily duration of sleep, weekly duration of playing online games, online game group membership, and parental monthly income were found to be associated with gaming addiction as measured by GAS scores. Meanwhile, educational background and monthly cost of playing games were found to be not associated with game addiction as measured by the GAS score.