Relationship between the use of video games and physical-healthy, psychosocial and academic indicators in primary schoolchildren

Abstract

The use of different digital devices is a widespread practice among young people. These acts will be a key conditioning factor in their health and quality of life. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to establish the relationships between the problematic use of video games with physical-healthy and psychosocial variables in Primary Education students. This study is descriptive and cross-sectional in nature, developed in a sample of 577 primary schoolchildren, aged between 11-12 years (M = 11.41; S.D. = 0.492). An Ad-Hoc questionnaire was used to record hours of physical activity, hours of sleep and use of screens. Likewise, for the problematic use with video games, the Questionnaire of Experiences Related to Video Games (CESR) was used, as well as the questionnaire of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (KIDMED). Those young people who register more hours of sleep and more hours of physical activity, do not offer problems with video games. However, the higher values of use of digital screens are related to severe problems. Those students who do not have problems with video games obtain higher values at academic, emotional, family and physical levels. In contrast, higher values of social self-concept are associated with severe problems. Finally, higher body mass indices are associated with severe problems with video games, while greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with those who do not have problems.