Video Game Addiction Test

Parents often contact Summerland Camps to see if there is a video game addiction test or some other measure to know if their child is truly addicted to video games or the internet. Internet gaming disorder was first proposed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders Version 5 (DSM-5) as a condition for further study and investigation.

There are nine criteria which have been adapted to a video game dependency scale. For most parents, the litmus test to see if your child is truly addicted to video games would be to simply answer the question, “is my child’s preoccupation with video games interfering with their ability to socialize, care for themselves, or is it interfering with family relationships or schooling?”

Video Game Addiction Test: The Criteria

According to the American Psychiatric Association, the diagnostic criteria for Internet Gaming Disorder include a repetitive use of Internet-based games, often with other players, that leads to significant issues with functioning.

Five of the following criteria must be met within one year:

1. Preoccupation or obsession with Internet games.
2. Withdrawal symptoms when not playing Internet games.
3. A build-up of tolerance–more time needs to be spent playing the games.
4. The person has tried to stop or curb playing Internet games but has failed to do so.
5. The person has had a loss of interest in other life activities, such as hobbies.
6. A person has had continued overuse of Internet games even with the knowledge of how much they impact a person’s life.
7. The person lied to others about his or her Internet game usage.
8. The person uses Internet games to relieve anxiety or guilt–it’s a way to escape.
9. The person has lost or put at risk and opportunity or relationship because of Internet games.

Research into Video Game Addiction Test

In one study, respondents who are classified as internet gaming disorder skipped school more often, had lower grades, and reported more sleep problems and felt addicted to gaming as compared to their peers.

While there are nine criteria for video game addiction diagnosis, the most frequently reported criteria are to “escape from adverse moods” which occurred in 5.3% of diagnosed respondents and “preoccupation with video games” which occurred in 3.91% of respondents.

Studies have also shown that the criteria of giving up other activities, developing tolerance and withdrawal symptoms from video games are all of key importance for identifying internet gaming disorder as defined by the DSM-5.

Most Simplified Video Game Addiction Test?

In conclusion, while a parent can examine all nine DSM-5 criteria as a test to see if a child has a video game addiction, research suggests that symptoms related to giving up other activities to play video games, developing tolerance and withdrawal effects related to those games are the most relevant in terms of diagnosing a video game addiction for adolescents and teens.

Therefore, if you see these traits in your child, please give us a call today at 800-365-0556 to get started, or fill out our form here.