Problematic gaming behaviour and health-related outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2017)

J Health Psychol. 2017 Nov 1:1359105317740414. doi: 10.1177/1359105317740414.

Männikkö N1, Ruotsalainen H2, Miettunen J3, Pontes HM4, Kääriäinen M2.

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the interplay between problematic gaming behaviour and health-related outcomes at different developmental stages. A total of 50 empirical studies met the specified inclusion criteria, and a meta-analysis using correlation coefficients was used for the studies that reported adverse health implications regarding the impact of problematic gaming behaviour on depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and somatisation. Overall, the results suggested that problematic gaming behaviour is significantly associated with a wide range of detrimental health-related outcomes. Finally, the limitations of this review alongside its implications were discussed and considered for future research.

KEYWORDS: Internet gaming disorder; health; problematic gaming

PMID: 29192524

DOI: 10.1177/1359105317740414