Video Gaming Addiction in Pakistani Adolescents: A Growing Concern

Background and Objectives: Video game addiction, or gaming disorder, is marked by impaired control over gaming, prioritizing gaming over other activities, and continuing despite negative consequences. This can lead to psychological, social, and occupational impairments. Despite its high prevalence among adolescents, research in Pakistan is limited. This review aims to compare international research on video game addiction and raise awareness about its impact on Pakistani adolescents. Methods: Using the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases, a thorough literature search was carried out to find research on video game addiction among teenagers in Pakistan, the USA, Canada, India, and China, aged 13 to 18. One-hundred-fifty-seven articles were found after narrowing the search to include symptoms, diagnosis, and available treatments. Using filters, research on teenagers and the pertinent psychological, social, or physical effects of gaming disorders that were published between 2014 and 2024 and had free full-text availability were included. Fifty papers were shortlisted after inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Additional screening made this list smaller, resulting in 26 articles. These publications were then examined for trends in gaming disorder symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment suggestions, with an emphasis on Pakistani teenagers. Results: The review highlighted a significant lack of research regarding Pakistani adolescent gamers. Existing studies focused on older youth, leaving a gap in understanding younger adolescents' gaming behaviors and addiction patterns. Internationally, studies revealed associations between gaming addiction and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. In Pakistan, studies showed high prevalence rates of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) among adolescents, significantly impacting their mental and physical health. Similar trends were observed in China, Canada, and India. Conclusion: There is a critical need for research on gaming addiction among Pakistani adolescents. The findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions and support structures. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand addiction patterns and cultural influences on gaming behavior.