Gamers avoid sleep to continue playing video games, may indicate addictive behavior

Teenagers and adults who play video games will prioritize continuing to play over obtaining adequate sleep, according to data presented at SLEEP 2016 in Denver.

In addition, the researchers concluded that while video game addiction is not included in the DSM-5, the data indicate that, given that gaming contributes to bedtime delays and tardiness at school and work, the practice may be addictive.

“These findings provide further insight into factors that influence individuals’ decision making when determining if they should get sufficient sleep,” Brandy M. Roane, PhD, assistant professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and director of the UNTHSC Sleep Research Lab, said in a press release. “Our data show that video gaming is quite an important factor that frequently leads to missed sleep for 67% of gamers. Additionally, the reasons provided by gamers for their choice to delay their bedtime strongly supports the inclusion of video gaming as an addictive behavior.”

To test their hypothesis that gamers would show a high bedtime delay prevalence rate, and that gaming frequency and duration would predict bedtime delay, Roane and colleagues conducted a survey of U.S. gamers aged 13 years and older who played video games at least once in the previous week. The online questionnaire included questions regarding demographics, gaming consoles, game genres, and gaming frequency and duration.

Participants who delayed their bedtime 1 or more nights answered questions regarding game modes, social interactions, next-day tardiness and gaming-related reasons for delaying bedtime. A total of 963 gamers completed the survey.

According to the researchers, 67% of participants delayed their bedtime on 1.7±2 nights for 102±70 minutes. In addition, 9.7% were late at least once the next day for school, while 12.9% were late for work and 18.5% were tardy for other activities. No significant differences in demographics were found.

Playing more genres predicted greater bedtime delay frequency (P < .001) and duration (P = .027, the researchers said. More consoles predicted greater bedtime delay duration (P = .041). Percentage of nights playing co-op (P < .001), multiplayer (P = .011), in-game (P < .001) and cellphone (P = .001) socializing predicted longer bedtime delay durations. According to the researchers, regression analysis showed that addiction-type delay reasons (P = .001) and no in-game save-point (P = .015) predicted bedtime delay frequency. No in-game save point also predicted bedtime delay. – by Jason Laday

Disclosure: Healio Family Medicine could not confirm researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.

Reference:

Roane BM, et al. Abstract 0168. Presented at SLEEP 2016; June 11-15; Denver.