A Study of the Correlation between Computer Games and Adolescent Behavioral Problems.
BACKGROUND
Today, due to developing communicative technologies, computer games and other audio-visual media as social phenomena, are very attractive and have a great effect on children and adolescents. The increasing popularity of these games among children and adolescents results in the public uncertainties about plausible harmful effects of these games. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between computer games and behavioral problems on male guidance school students.


METHODS
This was a descriptive-correlative study on 384 randomly chosen male guidance school students. They were asked to answer the researcher's questionnaire about computer games and Achenbach's Youth Self-Report (YSR).


RESULTS
The Results of this study indicated that there was about 95% direct significant correlation between the amount of playing games among adolescents and anxiety/depression, withdrawn/depression, rule-breaking behaviors, aggression, and social problems. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between the amount of computer game usage and physical complaints, thinking problems, and attention problems. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the students' place of living and their parents' job, and using computer games.


CONCLUSIONS
Computer games lead to anxiety, depression, withdrawal, rule-breaking behavior, aggression, and social problems in adolescents.
Senior Researcher, Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Solmaz
S
Shokouhi-Moqhaddam
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
Noshiravan
N
Khezri-Moghadam
Academic Member, Department of General Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Zarand Branch, Kerman, Iran.
Zeinab
Z
Javanmard
Senior Researcher, Hamadan Educational Office, Hamadan, Iran.
Hassan
H
Sarmadi-Ansar
Student, Kerman University of Agricultural Applied Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Mehran
M
Aminaee
Nurse, Department of Angiography, Shafa Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Majid
M
Shokouhi-Moqhaddam
Senior Researcher, Medical Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Mahmoud
M
Zivari-Rahman
Adolescents; Computer games; Social behavior