THE EFFECT OF DURATION OF TIME SPENT ON PLAYING VIDEO GAMES ON COGNITIVE ABILITIES AND IMPULSIVITY AMONG ADOLESCENTS

Background: People had to isolate themselves due to the abrupt COVID-19 outbreak, which caused worry and anxiety. As a result, people turned to video games for enjoyment as a way to reduce stress. Prior research emphasized the detrimental consequences of video games on teen behaviours. But recently study has focused on the possibility that video games can improve neurocognitive abilities. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of duration of time spent on playing video games on cognitive abilities, and impulsivity among adolescents. Methodology: Data was collected form 101 participants belonging to age group 15-18 years; those who play games for 2 hours and for 30 minutes. Non-probability convenient sampling was used. Cognitive abilities were assessed using Mackworth clock test, Corsi block Tapping Test and Tower of Hanoi test while impulsivity was assessed using Barratt impulsiveness scale-short form. Data was entered and analysed in SPSS version 20. Result: There were 50 gamers (49.50%) who play games for 2 hours and 51 gamers (50.50%) those who play games for 30 minutes. Result suggests that there is a significant difference in motor impulsivity, non-planning impulsivity, attentional impulsivity, correct responses, false alarm, mean reaction time, number of correct trials, memory span, total score, shortest and steps but no significant difference was found between time/steps. Findings also reveal that those who play games for longer period of time has scored high in impulsivity than those who play for limited amount of time. Conclusion: Gamers exhibit a wider range of cognitive abilities, particularly in the areas of vigilance, visual-spatial working memory, and problem-solving. In this study, people who played video games for two hours had higher impulsivity and better cognitive ability than those who played for only a brief time. It indicates that playing video games enhances cognitive abilities but playing them for a long-time foster impulsivity.