Impact of video-games on academic performance and sleep duration in medical students

Abstract

Introduction: Video-gaming has become one of the most preferred leisure activities among adolescents, with prevalence rate being as high as 75% in some of the industrialized countries. Video games provide a ‘virtual world’ where the gamer can seek challenges and thrills in a safe way and fulfill his need for adventure and excitement. The popularity of video-games has raised concern over their possible impact on the physical, mental and emotional well being of an individual. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of video-games on academic performance and sleep duration in medical students. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in GIMS, Gadag, after being cleared by the Ethical committee. Fifty healthy male medical students who regularly played video-games acted as subjects, and fifty age and gender matched students were controls. Information related to duration of video-gaming, sleep duration and academic performance was assessed using comprehensive questionnaire. Comparison between the groups was done using students t-test. Correlation between duration of videogaming with academic performance and sleep duration in the subjects was assessed using Pearson’s correlation. Effect size was calculated. Results: In students, who regularly played video games, the academic performance was less and the duration of sleep was more, when compared to the students who didn’t play videogames. The difference was statistically significant (P Conclusion: Video-games have a negative effect on academic performance in medical students, and they also seem to increase the duration and requirement of sleep. Keywords: Video-games, Academic performance, Sleep duration.