Video Game Addiction Connected To ADHD: Study

LOMA LINDA, CA — Parents may want to think twice about letting their children play video games often. A study released this month by researchers at Loma Linda University's School of Behavioral Health found attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) severity is associated with severity of video game addiction.

The study, “Video game addiction, ADHD symptomatology, and video game reinforcement,” published in "The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse," found that risk of addiction existed regardless of type of video game played or preferred most.

“This result is consistent with our hypothesis and with prior research, which suggests that people with greater ADHD symptom severity may be at greater risk for developing problematic playing habits,” said Holly Morrell, associate professor at Loma Linda University's School of Behavioral Health and the study’s principal investigator.

Morrell said previous research has estimated that up to 23 percent of people who play video games report symptoms of addiction, which can lead to negative effects on health, well-being, sleep, academics and socialization.

In the Loma Linda University study, the number of hours playing video games was associated with addiction severity. Age was not a factor, researchers said.

--Photo courtesy of Loma Linda University