Oruebubechukwu Asogwa

Impact of Video Game Use on ADHD Among Children and Adolescents

Started Oct. 6, 2023

Abstract or project description

Background: Video games have become popular entertainment among children and adolescents worldwide. Excessive video game play, with its reinforcement of sensation-seeking and instant gratification, may be appealing to individuals with ADHD and can worsen ADHD symptoms; children with ADHD are predominantly inattentive, impulsive, and lack self-control, leaving them more susceptible to excessive video game use when compared to children without ADHD. This systematic review aimed to examine the relationship between video game use and attention-activity disorder (ADHD) among children and adolescents.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, using the following search terms: “Adolescence, Video Games, and ADHD. "

Results: 18 articles were selected for extraction based on the established inclusion criteria. The results showed that children diagnosed with ADHD are more susceptible to excessive video game use and that video games can exacerbate ADHD symptoms.

Conclusion: This systematic review focused on the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and video game use among children and adolescents. Children with ADHD are at a higher risk of becoming addicted to video games, and the worsening of attention span following video game use was the most common observed finding. Comprehensive scales for ADHD and video game use should be developed to reduce the variability in the study's findings. More research should be conducted on the relationship between video game use and ADHD.