Prevalence and Risk Factors of Video Game Dependency in Adolescence: Results of a German Nationwide Survey

TLDR

The study reports findings from a German nationwide survey of ninth‑graders on video‑game dependency. A controlled sample of 44,610 ninth‑graders was surveyed in 2007–2008 by the Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony. Using the KFN‑CSAS‑II instrument, 3 % of male and 0.3 % of female students were identified as dependent, revealing a clear threshold between heavy gaming and clinical dependency and highlighting personal risk factors, thereby underscoring the need for further research and health‑care policy measures.

Abstract

In this article, results of a German nationwide survey (KFN schools survey 2007/2008) are presented. The controlled sample of 44,610 male and female ninth-graders was carried out in 2007 and 2008 by the Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony (KFN). According to a newly developed screening instrument (KFN-CSAS-II), which was presented to every third juvenile participant (N = 15,168), 3% of the male and 0.3% of the female students are diagnosed as dependent on video games. The data indicate a clear dividing line between extensive gaming and video game dependency (VGD) as a clinically relevant phenomenon. VG prevalence and risk factors are crucial for VGD. In addition, it becomes evident that personal risk factors are crucial for VGD. The findings indicate the necessity of additional research as well as the respective measures in the field of health care policies.