

aming addiction plays havoc with the lives of millions of gamers around the world – we need to expand treatment options in New Zealand, says Jennifer Jiyun Park.
Video gaming occupies two contrasting public perceptions. It is widely embraced as a beloved hobby, yet also seen as a source of harm. As games become more sophisticated, encouraging longer and more frequent play, a growing number of individuals are swept up to the point of losing control.
Jennifer Jiyun Park is a doctoral candidate, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland
Read the full article on the Auckland University website.
Also published on Newsroom.

New data from the WHO Regional Office for Europe reveals a sharp rise in problematic social media use among adolescents, with rates increasing from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022. This, coupled with findings that 12% of adolescents are at risk of problematic gaming, raises urgent concerns about the impact of digital technology on the mental health and well-being of young people.
Read More
Internet Use Disorders (IUDs) are emerging as a societal challenge. Evidence-based treatment options are scarce. Digital health interventions may be promising to deliver psychological treatment to individuals with IUDs directly in their online setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a digital health intervention for IUDs compared to a waitlist control group (WCG).
Read More
In the past few years internet addiction (IA) and internet gaming disorder (IGD) have become very frequent, leading to many personality and psychiatric disorders including low self-esteem, impulsivity, poor sleep quality, mood disorder, and suicide. IA has been included in Appendix III of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as IGD. In addition, IA leads to many neuroanatomical and neurochemical alterations including cortical thinning of various components of the brain and altered dopaminergic reward circuitry.
Read MoreWe greatly appreciate your feedback on this website and would like to know what information you found useful and what services you would like to see next. Please take a couple of minutes to let us know.
survey