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Abstract

Background: Dependence on mobile phone gaming has become increasingly recognised as a behavioural problem that has serious effects on the health of young adults in fast-growing nations like India. This study investigates the prevalence of mobile gaming addiction among schoolchildren in Tamil Nadu, specifically in the Dharmapuri district, and explores its influence on sleep patterns, physical health, and psychological well-being.
Objective: The objectives are to assess an extent of adolescent addiction to mobile gaming, look at how it impacts physical and sleep health, and find connects between addiction behaviours and health problems.
Methods: Using a convenience sampling technique, 902 upper secondary school students, ages 13 to 18, participated in a cross-sectional descriptive study. A self-administered questionnaire covering demographic information, gaming habits, sleep and physical health indicators, and psychological well-being was used to gather data. The Modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (mNMQ) and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short Form (IGDS9-SF) were employed as validated instruments. JASP software was used to perform multiple linear regression analysis, descriptive statistics, and Pearson's correlation; a p-value of less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.
Results: Participants' mean age was 15.19 ± 1.32 years, with 77% of them being men and 23% being women. About 16% withdrew, 22% reported tolerance, 19% salience/preoccupation and mood modification, and 25% reported conflict as a result of gaming. According to a sleep analysis, 31% of respondents had trouble falling asleep, and 62% slept for 7–8 hours every day. Furthermore, 48% of people had sleep latency within 15 minutes. With p < 0.001, Pearson's correlation revealed a significant positive relationship between mobile gaming addiction (MGA) and effects on physical and sleep health (IPSH) (r = 0.694) as well as between MGA and effects on sleep and physical health (r = 0.749). The most prevalent diseases were musculoskeletal pain (69%), vision issues (71%), and psychological distress like hopelessness (8%).