RQ:
My research question is: How does gaming addiction form in teens? This topic interests me because I love playing video games, and it’s almost a hobby now. I always wondered about the effects it might have on people, whether good or negative. In this research, I want to focus on teenagers because it’s where the early signs of development start. I already know that many teens have a serious gaming addiction. This gaming addiction could lead to certain kids neglecting the responsibilities they have. Leading to many teenagers performing badly in school. Some of the points that I plan to explore and find out more about are if gaming for teens leads to a lot of aggression in their daily lives and if teens who play a lot of video games lack time management skills.
Part 1 MLA Citation:
Staff, Newport Academy. “Teens & Video Games: New Research on Teenage Video Game Addiction.” Newport Academy, 23 Mar. 2024, https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/treatment/teenage-video-game-addiction/.
Part 2 Summary:
In the article “Teens & Video Games: New Research on Teenage Video Game Addiction,” NewPort Academy finds new research on how mental health and video game addiction for teens correlate. NewPort Academy discusses how teens who struggle with mental health use gaming as a distraction from their own puzzling emotions. NewPort Academy cites research from the World Health Organization. In the World Health Organization research they list the three main criteria to diagnose someone of having a gaming disorder. “An inability to control the urge to play video games,” “The feeling that gaming is more important than any other activity,” and “Continuing to play video games despite the negative consequences of the behavior on relationships, academic performance, and/or work.” In NewPort Academy’s research they found that boys are more likely to have a gaming disorder. This is due to a higher level of maladaptive cognitions in adolescent males. NewPort Academy explores the negative effects of video game addiction on the brain. In another study they noticed that young adults with a gaming disorder showered lower volumes of gray and white brain matter and had poor decision making, impulse control and emotion regulation. The authors assert that playing video games can be helpful or harmful all depending on how frequently teens are playing online games. Parents can help prevent teenage video gaming addiction by trying to make a reasonable contract with their kids as taking away their video games tends to backfire and limits their decision making.
Part 3 Rhetorical Analysis:
The genre is a feature article. NewPort Academy informs the readers about the subject. NewPort Academy writing style is informative. The Academy uses the rhetorical appeal of logos throughout the text, citing research and using the research to further inform the reader about the subject. The Academy motive for writing this article is to show how teens who suffer from mental health issues tend to use video games as a distraction from their feelings. This pushes a video game addiction on teens because they don’t have to express their true emotions on the game. NewPort Academy’s primary audience is parents. The Academy also wants the readers to understand what gaming addiction is, how it’s formed, and how it can be prevented in teenagers. NewPort Academy is a nationwide teen treatment program with 85% of teens completing the academy’s program.
Part 4 Notable Quotes:
“But the causes of video game addiction go deeper than how much time kids spend playing. There are underlying psychological factors that increase a teen’s vulnerability to video game addiction. Research shows a correlation between teenage video game addiction and the prevalence of depression and anxiety. In addition, studies have also found that adolescents with an insecure attachment to parents are more prone to internet addiction, including gaming addiction.” (NewPort Academy)
“MRI scans show that gaming appears to create more craving-related activity in the male brain, consistent with findings regarding substance and gambling addictions.” (NewPort Academy)
“In addition, teen boys are more likely to turn to maladaptive coping mechanisms when struggling with mental health issues. Research shows that males feel greater shame about experiencing mental health symptoms, and internalize the idea that men should not show weakness or vulnerability.” (NewPort Academy)
“Ultimately, however, the most effective way to prevent teenage video game addiction is by addressing the underlying issues that make teens vulnerable to gaming disorder. Hence, parents can help teens build positive coping mechanisms such as physical activity, time in nature, yoga, meditation, and creative expression.” (NewPort Academy)
