Video Games Can Cause Mental Health Problems, Study Finds

Whether or not video games will cause mental health problems for some, many, or none of the kids who play them, it's shocking how much time parents let their kids waste on these games. No wonder today's young people are so fat, and failing academically. 19 hours a week is normal? Really? What kind of excuses do parents make to themselves where they think 20 hours a week playing video games is good use of their kids' time? And how many more hours do those kids spend watching idiotic TV shows? And how much more time is spent texting their friends with inane comments and updating their facebook status? It would seem the average full-time job for these kids is sitting on their butts in front of a screen for 40 or more hours each week. I would be content in knowing what a competitive edge kids like mine have over these slackers, yet there's just not enough kids like mine to carry this nation by themselves. Parents, get off your own lazy butts, and unplug your kids! Parent is a verb.

Dear Momma,
Your kids don't have a competitive edge over anyone. I played video games heavily in high school and I still had an IQ of 142 and a 40yd time of 4.8 (6'3" 220lbs). Also, I didn't know that parenting was now considered a competitive sport...

Just because a child decides to play video games doesn't make them an imbecile. Half of the video games on the market require quite a bit of thought process. So you stick to your competitive parenting and I'll keep laughing about the fact that you were sitting in front of a screen to read this article and post your comment, but you want people to unplug their kids. Lead by example...

Gotta agree with Zack. Maybe it has negative effects on young children, but most of the most intelligent and interesting people I know in college were avid gamers in high school. I don't believe that's a side effect of the games, though. More likely just the sort of personality video gaming attracts.

" I am a gamer, probably considered pathologic since I arrange my day by what is happening in the game. " karen

Don't tell me ,,, let me guess .... Dungeons & Dragons..

I agree, I see disrespect all over the place and it doesnt come from
games, and I'll be the first to step up and admit that we as parents
at times have failed in enforcing respect from our own son and we see
that we need to tighten the reigns as he is still young enough to fix
that. My son is an only child and hyper, and because parents (and
some schools) have allowed other kids to be disrespectful, thank
goodness for video games. We dont allow our kid to play the violent
bloody games and it allows him to vent some of his overactivity,
during the time of the day when I need to write the bills, then, we
enforce breaks and engage in quality parent/kid time with board games
and outdoor activities, its a matter of balance and overseeing the
gaming and not allowing it to become the only way your child has play
time and parents making sure they still parent that keeps kids from
having "issues". To add, my kid will NOT be getting an expensive
phone to text and get lost in at age 15, along with the monthly price
tags that come along with them. We have tracphones and believe a
phone call or letter is just as good and will get a tracphone for him
for emergencies and short calls when needed and we've already given
him an ipod with disney music and other monitored music to help keep
him well rounded out. Its a sansa not an expensive ipod which when he
saves for when hes older he may buy if he wants, and he loves it.

And many of the adults around them can't seem to spell. Interesting.

I maybe wrong but arent these types of studies funded ? In my opinion to much emphasis is placed on blaming outside influences to explain the bad behavoir of children who turn into sociopaths and serial killers. Face it some people are born into society that are predestined to not be able to function normaly and interact with other human beings. These are defective spawn. Do a study on that idea.

I agree, Kids do learn respect from their parents. However, it is not just families with divorce that the kids have the lack of respect and such. Most parents today could careless. There is no such thing as responsibilty anymore, hence articles such as this. "Blame video games/media"
Growing up, I was taught right from wrong, pay my dues and respect those around me. My siblings which were born 17 years after, were raised totaly different. Its not that society changed its that after awhile parents don't care. They grow old and basiclly give up.
Point is.... take the controler, the media players (iPod, iPad, Zune, cellphones... whatever) away and be a parent, grow up and take responsibility. Spend time with your kids, stop passing the buck onto society then blame media for your little deviant monsters.

Seriously? People do know the difference between a game and real life. If a child doesn't know the difference, take a hard look at the parents. You are responsible for your child's behavior whether you think so or not. If your kid goes out and starts driving erratically, maybe they learned it from you. People know that if you run over a hooker or steal someone's car, you will go to prison. There are no cheat codes in life and kids know that.

ummm......yea they say they can cause seizures bc of kids who are epileptic and because flashing lights (even a camera flashing) has the ability to cause a seizure if they are very sensitive. why dont you look at how u let ur kid act and not blame the video games. and as for the add thing they wayyyyyy over do that and say any kid with any form of energy has add. my brother was told he had that was put on ritalin, lost his appetite and had a growth stunt bc of it to later find out they were wrong and it was all unnecessary he just needed to have more study and family time put in. ur kid probably gets mad when hes told to get off the video games because he hasnt learned any other outside activites that are fun. make him play outside more and then he wont be so angry because he will realize video games arent the only fun thing in the world. and that feeling in ur gut is probably bc u know u let him play too much and want to blame the game. its about boundaries, give ur kids set time to play and set times to go outside and none should be done till homework is done.

Any sudden loud noises or flashes of light may cause someone with epilepsy to have a seizure. Video games do NOT cause epilepsy. Video games do NOT cause symptoms of Tourettes either, however repetitive loud noises and/or flashes of light and such things as repetitive actions can cause symptoms to worsen in someone with Tourettes. ADD/OCD is way over diagnosed and children have been over medicated so much that it has caused harm to the child.

Your son is "OBSESSED" with video games because you have allowed it. Quit trying to shift the blame and take responsibility. You seem to blame the video games for everything, yet by your own statements, you still have the video games in your house. One would think that if you truly believed video games are causing all these medical problems that you would get rid of them.

I hope you can find out what is causing your son to have symptoms of Tourettes and his mood changes so that he can be treated successfully. Good luck to you.