Pandemic and Videogames. Is it an Addiction problem?

In this blog post we will look at some of the changes brought about by the pandemic, the circumstances that have led us to spend more time in front of screens, and some of the characteristics of video games that can lead to overuse. We will also look at why it can be wrong to label it as addiction, and some ways to try and change problematic use. We have had to rely much more on new technologies to try to carry out both work and leisure activities, while reducing direct contact with other people. Remote work, video calls and internet-based entertainment have become part of everyday life in almost every household, creating the perfect conditions for the amount of time we spend in front of screens to significantly increase...

The Covid-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on all areas of our lives. We have had to adapt unexpectedly to new and changing situations, living with permanent uncertainty. The mental health consequences associated with the pandemic are manifold, ranging from discomfort and other isolated symptoms to the development of complex problems such as insomnia, depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder, among others. (Ramírez-Ortiz et al. 2020).

Restrictive policies have led to a reorganization of our lives and a loss of the variety of pleasant and enjoyable activities previously available. In a few weeks we went from being able to leave the house freely, to meet with friends and loved ones, to travel, to do engage in different leisure activities... To no longer being able to do most of them. Even under normal circumstances, a loss of gratifying activities like this is likely to generate problems related to mood, stress, and anxiety, among others.

In addition to this great reduction of pleasant stimuli, many unpleasant stimuli have emerged. For months, we have seen very harsh images on television, we have experienced or heard painful stories of people who have been directly affected by the virus, overcrowded field hospitals, people who have not even been able to say goodbye to their loved ones... In one way or another, fear has been present in people' s lives.

The video game industry has experienced exponential growth in recent years, surpassing even the cinema and music industries. Their use as entertainment has become widespread, and despite having been considered for a long time as something appropriate for children and teenagers, today they have spread to people of all ages and characteristics and are even a source of income for many.

However, they have been the target of much controversy regarding their potential negative consequences on health, especially among children and adolescents. All sorts of negative consequences have been attributed to them, leading to alarming news headlines and stories. They are often automatically linked to addiction, mood disorders or violent behavior, creating public alarm and aversion towards them.

Directly associating video games with addictive disorders is a tricky question that needs a lot of clarification. Firstly, because there are many types of video games, and secondly, because it would be necessary to define what we consider to be an addiction. We shouldn't go to the extreme of scaremongering, but neither should we ignore something that can pose a real problem. In fact, the World Health Organisation has recently defined the "video game use disorder", which reflects that there is some concern, and that there are people who do indeed have a problem with the use of video games. But can we really talk about an addiction to video games?

Addictions are complex disorders, and it is not possible to address them in a single post. However, there are some core characteristics shared by all addictions. There are two main aspects to be considered, without which it is probably not possible to talk about an addiction:

• La Lack of control
• Significant disruption of the person's life.

Addictions are complex disorders, and it is not possible to address them in a single post. However, there are some core characteristics shared by all addictions. There are two main aspects to be considered, without which it is probably not possible to talk about an addiction:

• La Lack of control
• Significant disruption of the person's life.

There are many other criteria for addictions, and many approaches have been proposed to explain them, but there is a broad consensus that, if these two main criteria are met, we can start talking about addiction.

Coming back to video games and children, in general, in most of the cases in which we speak of "children addicted to video games", these characteristics are not present. It seems that the behavior does not have such a marked compulsive nature, and the motivation for playing is actually linked to the satisfaction or reward that is obtained by playing. Although it is debatable whether it is better or worse than other activities, people who spend a lot of time playing video games do not necessarily have a problem with video games, and studies do not show a clear correlation between the time spent playing video games and the problems they cause.

What has been discussed so far does not mean that there are no issues related to their use, nor does it detract from their importance. Instead of focusing on the time they take up, we should shift the spotlight to other features such as:

• What is done in-game
• La The purpose it serves for the person playing it

For example, a child or adolescent may experience a lot of anxiety in social situations, with a lack of skills to interact in a satisfactory way with other people. However, in the video game he has his own avatar, he is very good at it and seems very competent, so he feels respected and admired by others. If, in addition, it allows him to channel all the frustration and discomfort caused by situations in other areas of his life, and games are an escape route to avoid dealing with them, in this case the game can have negative effects by preventing him from developing behaviors that would be more adaptive in other situations. It is therefore important to find out why playing is important and rewarding for the player, and why they are not receiving similar rewards from other activities.

Again, in this case the use of the game itself is not the problem, but the means or strategy for dealing with the underlying issue. Therefore, we should look at the causes behind the use in each individual and the function they fulfil in each case, and not so much at the game itself. Video games are also an extension of the individual's reality, they are not a world apart, especially for the youngest. Therefore, it is likely that if there are problems in the "real" life of children or adolescents, they will also appear in the "online" world.

Another major conflict area that can cause issues is the use of tokens or virtual currencieswithin video games. When we consider non-substance addictions, we often talk about the use of the internet and social networks, video games, and gambling. And in fact, among these cases, gambling is the only non-substance addiction on which there is a strong consensus. Here is where the problem arises, as in recent years the boundaries between the world of video games and the world of gambling have faded. A phenomenon has appeared among video games that shares many characteristics with gambling, which has attracted a great deal of attention: Virtual currencies, and Loot Boxes, which we will explain in more detail in another post.

When we consider the characteristics of Loot Boxes, we can quickly see many similarities with gambling - they are "boxes", "chests", "packs" or similar, which can be bought, without knowing what is inside until they are opened.Depending on the game, inside these loot boxes there may be items that allow players to progress faster or that provide them with an advantage (for example, in FIFA envelopes they may receive much better players than others), or purely cosmetic and decorative items such as "skins" or complements for their characters, which are more related to the status and exclusivity they provide to the player. And these types of transactions can cause problems which are closer to the etiology of addiction.

In this case, there is also a social dimension, where exclusive or very rare in-game items are obtained, which are very rewarding for players and give them status within the community. And as mentioned at the beginning of this post, the social sphere is one of the areas that has been most affected by the pandemic, something that may have contributed to the increase in its use.

If we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, we see that health restrictions have led to isolation and social distancing, forcing people to spend more time at home. Many video games offer a space for socializing and are also designed to keep users playing for as long as possible. They include very salient stimuli for players, they are enjoyable activities, and they have become very important in a context where many leisure options have diminished or completely disappeared. These conditions have therefore led to the perfect environment for players to spend more time using them.

However, video games cannot be considered addictive per se, and we must look at each person's circumstances to understand why they are being used in that way, decide whether it is really a problem, and then make the most suitable decisions about it.

• The pandemic has brought major changes to our lives, reducing the «menu» of rewarding activities we previously had, and increasing the unpleasant experiences to which we are exposed.
• In this environment, new technologies have gained great relevance, both for work and leisure activities, and our time devoted to screens has increased significantly.
• Given the social aspect of many video games, it is to some extent reasonable that their use increased during the periods of restrictions, given the large decrease in the number of alternatives available.
• Video games are not harmful or addictive intrinsically, it is necessary to carefully examine the reason why each person plays and the function that their use serves in each case.
• Although we are not talking about addiction, excessive use of video games can be dysfunctional and cause great discomfort if they take up a lot of time and are used as a means of channeling other deficiencies or avoiding certain situations. Again, each case needs to be examined on a case-by-case basis.
• Some video games include gambling-like features, such as loot boxes, which can result in problematic use and lead to addictive behaviors.
• If you are concerned about your situation or that of your children, the best option is to speak to a professional: each case is different and a psychologist can examine the variables that influence such behavior, the role it plays and suggest a plan to change it.
• If the problem is with children/adolescents, learn about the risks (such as how loot boxes work), take an interest in your child’s likes and dislikes, understand why the game is important to them, and set agreed boundaries with them. Try to understand the reward they are finding in the video game, and why they may not find it in other activities.
• Show interest in them, in their world, as it can be a space in which to share time with them, teach them good strategies to interact with technologies and establish a healthy relationship with video games, which can be extended to any potentially harmful behaviour in the future.

Huremović, D. (Ed.). (2019). Psychiatry of pandemics: a mental health response to infection outbreak. Springer.

Ramírez-Ortiz, J., Castro-Quintero, D., Lerma-Córdoba, C., Yela-Ceballos, F., & Escobar-Córdoba, F. (2020). Consecuencias de la pandemia Covid 19 en la salud mental asociadas al aislamiento social.

Vaamonde, A. G. N., Toribio, M. J., Molero, B. T., & Suárez, A. (2018). Beneficios cognitivos, psicológicos y personales del uso de los videojuegos y esports: una revisión. Revista de Psicología Aplicada al Deporte y al Ejercicio Físico, 3(2), 16.