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@article{190805,
        author = {Saba Ashaq},
        title = {A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF ONLINE GAMING AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN SELECTED SCHOOLS OF ABOHAR, PUNJAB},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {4261-4265},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=190805},
        abstract = {Background: Online gaming has grown rapidly among adolescents and may have negative consequences for physical health, mental well-being, academic performance, and social functioning. The present descriptive study aims to assess the prevalence and patterns of negative effects associated with online gaming among adolescents in selected schools of Abohar, Punjab.
Methods: A school-based descriptive study was designed. Three co-educational high schools in Abohar were selected purposively. A sample of 300 adolescents (aged 13–18 years) was recruited using systematic random sampling from class rosters. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographics, gaming patterns, the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short Form (IGDS9-SF) for problematic gaming tendencies, and standardized screening items for sleep disturbance, concentration problems, academic decline, and interpersonal difficulties. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, proportions, means, SD) summarized findings.
Results: Of 300 participants, 62% were male and mean age was 15.4 (SD 1.6) years. Ninety percent reported playing online games at least once in the past month; mean gaming time was 2.9 hours/day (SD 1.7). Using IGDS9-SF cut-offs, 28% met criteria suggestive of problematic gaming behavior. Reported negative effects included sleep disturbance (34%), decline in academic performance perceived by students/parents (29%), irritability or mood swings related to gaming (31%), and reduced face-to-face social activities (27%). Higher daily gaming hours were associated with greater frequency of reported negative effects in descriptive comparisons.
Conclusions: A substantial proportion of adolescents reported negative effects related to online gaming. School-based awareness, parental guidance, structured leisure alternatives, and screening for problematic gaming are recommended.},
        keywords = {Online gaming, Adolescents, Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), Sleep disturbance, Academic performance, Social functioning},
        month = {January},
        }