PennWest professor studies gaming disorders and how they can lead to behavioral issues

Gaming is a “maladaptive coping strategy,” Stephanie Diez says.

By KELLEN STEPLER
TribLive

Stephanie Diez first learned of gaming disorders as a social worker years ago.

It was 2010, and the first iPhones were becoming more popular. She began to see a connection between clients recovering from substance abuse later addicted to gaming and technology.

“One of the biggest reasons gaming can be problematic is that they use it as a form of escapism,” said Diez, a professor at Pennsylvania Western University’s Edinboro campus and director of its Masters of Social Work program. “They turn to gaming and it’s a maladaptive coping strategy.”

Since then, the disorder has been researched more, and has only become more prevalent.

In addition to her work at PennWest, Diez founded Reboot & Recover, a nonprofit dedicated to education, prevention, treatment and research regarding technology- driven behavioral health concerns.

The American Psychiatric Association reports nine symptoms of Internet gaming, which are: preoccupation with gaming, withdrawal when gaming is not possible, tolerance, inability to reduce or stop gaming, giving up other activities to gaming, continuing to game despite problems, deceiving others about the amount of time spent on gaming, using gaming to relieve negative moods and risking life responsibilities due to gaming.

Researchers estimate video game addiction affects between 1.7% and 10% of the U.S. population, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

“With adolescents, one of the biggest challenges is that it impacts the development when it comes to sleep deprivation or behavior development,” Diez said.

And with advancements in technology and artificial intelligence, the disorder could become more prevalent.

Diez points to apps or games that have time-sensitive challenges or rewards that contribute to addiction.

In April, an Alabama mother sued Roblox and Fortnite developer Epic Games, alleging they design their platforms to be addictive through random reward tactics targeting minors.

The plaintiff in the lawsuit, now 10 years old, began playing Roblox and Fortnite at the age of five. The complaint alleges he became addicted due to certain game design features, and he is now unable to control how much he games. As a result, the lawsuit alleges, the child has lost friendships, spent money without permission, has poor grades and suffers from social isolation, depression and anxiety.

“Games are trying to be immersive, and also keep our attention,” Diez said.

Diez is encouraged by initiatives like phone-free schools or reduced screen time for children. Efforts to prevent gaming addiction start at home.

She encourages parents to model technology behaviors for their children. Parents should have conversations about why and what games their child is playing, and find healthy alternatives outside of the game.

“If they like to create, is there something we can create outside of the game?” Diez said. “If it’s social, can we engage in another way?”

But Diez doesn’t advocate for no technology. Through PennWest, Diez will host an online training June 22 and 23 focused on gaming disorder, gambling addiction, digital behavior and behavioral health treatment.

“We have to balance gaming and the physical world,” she said. “We have so much technology at our fingertips, we have to leverage it for good.”