Psychological Impact of Internet Gaming Addiction on Undergraduate Students- A Cross -Sectional Study

Abstract

As more and more people join the digital age, online gaming or online video games have exploded in popularity, particularly among the young generation of teenagers and students. For many young people, taking on a new challenge in an online game provides an addicting, adrenaline-filled getaway from the stresses of real life. People have a hard time setting limits on their Internet use, which can lead to the emergence of addictive behaviours in those who play frequently. The researcher drew on two theories—the Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)—to examine the impact of the three primary considerations (independent variables) in this study: social context, psychological make-up, and media exposure. This study's purpose, then, is to look at what makes undergraduates vulnerable to developing an addiction to internet gaming or online video games. In this qualitative study, 387 participants filled out a questionnaire that was delivered via a Google Form. The respondents were chosen at random from the population of college students in Delhi and the National Capital Region. These findings highlight the role that social and psychological influences, as well as the influence of the media, play in the development of online gaming addiction among college students. Students and faculty in the College of Business showed a moderate but manageable addiction to online gaming. The findings of this study should serve as a useful resource for many people, including parents, teachers, school administrators, researchers, and the general public, who are all in a position to offer strategic and proactive advice to those who are interested in playing video games online.