Online Game Addiction among Adolescents in Pondicherry, India

Online games addiction becomes a common phenomenon that affects many individuals, especially the adolescents and as well as our societies. The present study was aimed to determine the effects of online games addiction on physical and mental health of adolescents in and around Pondicherry population, India. Among the studied 584 adolescents, 172 (29%) adolescents meet 8 out of the 14 criteria and considered as addicted to online games. Result showed correlation between online games addiction and less physical activity, sleep disturbance, nervousness, abnormalities in social functioning and depressed mood were significant at p < 0.05. The present study concludes that online game has caused significant changes in the way adolescent communicate and interact.