Types of Video Games Played and Their Effect on Video Game Addiction in Children With and Without Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Background: Studies have shown that children with ADHD have higher problematic use of video games, though none have investigated the types of games played. Some of the most popular video games are online multiplayer games, meaning that there is no option to pause the game. This can be especially frustrating for kids with ADHD, who have poor time management skills. The lack of research into types of games played means that there is a gap in information used to tailor anticipatory guidance. Children with ADHD are also at higher risk of addiction. DSM-5 defined criteria for gaming addiction, but there have been no studies on gamers with ADHD using this criteria. Methods: The study was conducted at an outpatient pediatric subspecialty office using a cross-sectional survey method. The survey was completed by 119 participants and assessed aspects of video game usage and screened for video game addiction using DSM-5 criteria. The most frequently played game was determined to be primarily single player or multiplayer. Results: Among children with ADHD, there was no significant difference in positive screening for gaming addiction between those who primarily played video games with versus without a pause button. However, in children with no ADHD diagnosis, there was a significant difference in positive addiction screening between those who primarily played games with a pause button versus without. A chi-square test of independence was performed to examine the relationship between the criteria for video game addiction being met and whether the most frequently played game has a pause button. The relation between these variables was significant, p = .019. When comparing positive addiction screening for children with versus without ADHD, regardless of primary game type played, there was a 9% increase in positive screening for addiction in children with ADHD, though this number was not significant. Conclusion: Children with ADHD whose most frequently played video game does not have a pause button did not have an increased risk of video game addiction. However, children without ADHD were more at risk for video game addiction when their primary game was multiplayer. This warrants further research into the types of video games children are playing.