Gaming Addiction: the things one local professor suggests loved ones look out for

Jacksonville, FL — The World Health Organization is officially recognizing gaming addiction as a medical condition. The organization is adding “Gaming Disorder” to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, effective January 2022.

Gaming Disorder is defined as gaming that takes precedence over other interests in one's life like one's health and daily activities to the point where there are significant impacts on one's life.

Dr. Tracy Alloway, a psychology professor with the University of North Florida is weighing on the behaviors parents should look for especially with kids starting to stay home for the summer.

"The main thing about gaming disorder – or any kind of disorder is that actually has to have a significant impact on everyday functioning."

Alloway says it’s not just about playing games excessively but someone choosing to play games over carrying out their everyday activities, talking to people around them, or constantly thinking about playing games.

"Early questions individuals can ask themselves is on a scale of one to ten, where do you find yourself lying to cover up your game time and so on."

She says if you found yourself answering on the high-side, you might not be aware of how frequently you are engaging with video games. For loved ones she says try agreeing on setting time limits when it comes to gaming.

READ: Dr. Tracy Alloway's research