A Perspective on Online Gaming Addiction of Grade 12 Students in Saint Augustine School Senior High School

Abstract

Video games trace its roots back the late 1970’s but the first research about being addicted to video games was only initiated in the year of 1996 by Kimberly S. Young, making the study exist for two decades. Through the years, video game addiction is a hot topic across the world, spawning misconceptions and different perceptions about the issue. In the context of the Philippines, people tend to believe misconceptions about video game addiction. To solve this tendency, information drive campaigns must be implemented to help solve misconceptions and change the perception of the subject matter. Consequently, this qualitative study aims to understand the perceptions of Senior Highschool students about Video game addiction. Five students from St. Augustine School Senior High-Tanza were randomly selected for interviews. Over the course of 5 days, the participants were asked questions about their own perception on the subject matter through an interview. The findings of the study revealed that the participants deem addiction as a disorder which is constantly plaguing the younger generation. Based on the thematic analysis, it was discovered that people perceive video game addict as someone who has significant impairment in personal and social relationships. Also, the students firmly believe that these people are the ones who use games to evade problems despite knowing its negative consequences. The World Health Organization is recognizing the disease called "gaming disorder" which is brought about by the active and extended playing of video games. One of the symptoms that the addicts usually feel is the withdrawal syndrome. This syndrome is very evident when the gaming app or tool is taken away from the addict. The addict will then become more anxious and depressed.