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| While it is easy to assume that a child is violent due to his gaming addiction violence is multisystemic and a very complex issue. |
Until the horrific shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, Leyte last June 22, where three students were killed and 20 injured from gunfire allegedly inflicted by two students aged 14 and 15, few people had heard of the name GoreBox.
Described as a “chaotic, physics-driven sandbox game where creativity meets unrestrained destruction,” the online game was said to be a favorite pastime of the 14-year-old perpetrator.
As the investigation continues, the 14-year-old has been placed under a mandatory intervention program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and his 15-year-old companion has been criminally charged. As for GoreBox? It was temporarily banned by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.
Does taking away GoreBox and other similar online games mean the end of gaming-related violence? Not quite, says Paul Lawrence Filomeno, MD, a board-certified Pediatrician from the top hospital in the Philippines Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) and a Specialist in Addiction and Recovery Medicine with a focus on screen gaming and digital behavioral addictions in children and adolescents.
Multisystemic, complex issue
“Gaming violence is a violent behavior that can be triggered by some factors,” explains Dr. Filomeno. “That is partly because the game has different dynamics and dimensions that push the child towards violence. But violence can only be done or committed by an accumulation of multiple risk factors. We look at their environment at home, at school, social pressures, history of bullying, and cultural and familiar norms about violence. If they live in an environment where violence is also normalized, then it is easier for them to be influenced, to be violent as well in real life.”
“To blame the game itself would be lacking,” he declares. “It is multisystemic, and a very complex issue.” Indeed. While it is easy to assume a child has a gaming addiction and violent tendencies because he spends most of his waking hours immersed in combat and hack-and-slash games, it is not always the case.
“There are those who game for five hours, but can bounce back to real life,” says the MakatiMed doctor. “Then there are gamers who only play for two hours, but the stimulating game has a huge effect on their behavior. They cannot stop thinking about the game, and there are sacrifices involved in terms of their academic and social relationships.”
Red flags
What then are the signs of a child with a gaming disorder? Dr. Filomeno, the first Filipino pediatrician to complete a formal Subspecialty in Addiction Medicine from the University of the Philippines’ Philippine General Hospital, enumerates three red flags:
Loss of control.
They attempt to play for one hour. Five hours later, they are still at it. And it is not only that they can’t stop, but they also prioritize playing over real-world commitments like doing their homework, turning in a project, or keeping their room clean.
Functional impairment.
This is when gaming reaches a point where it interferes with eating, sleeping, school, hygiene, hobbies, and relationships with family and friends.
Difficulty in stopping.
Failing grades, cutting class, and giving up their allowance and personal belongings just so they can play is truly troubling behavior.
Multidisciplinary approach
Gaming disorder is treated through a multidisciplinary approach that involves the expertise of Guidance Counselors, Pediatricians, Child Psychologists, and Addiction Specialists. Still, Dr. Filomeno believes that family is the first component of the healthcare team. “Ninety percent of the effort is delegated to the family,” he highlights.
In fact, it is family that can help steer a youngster with a gaming disorder back on track. “No intervention is effective if the parents aren’t modeling [good behavior],” Dr. Filomeno says. “So, if you want your child to sleep early, they need to see an adult who sleeps early as well.” The same rule applies to gadgets. Do you want your child to stop gaming? Put down your phone or tablet.
6S
For parents to observe how gaming is impacting their kids, Dr. Filomeno cites six S: “The first S that they need to monitor is sleep. Sleep is a marker of a possibility that you need to protect the child if his gaming is affecting his sleep. Second, as a parent, you need to protect their safety. Do you have measures to verify that your child is not talking to strangers when he games? The third S is self-regulation. Does my child turn to gaming when he is sad? What behavior does he manifest when I ask him to reduce his screen time?”
In the fourth S or school, academic performance can be a gauge of gaming’s influence. Have their grades dropped or improved since your intervention? The fifth S is social connection. “A very important milestone in childhood,” reminds Dr. Filomeno. “Does your child know how to interact with people?” The sixth and most important S is security.
Are you on top of things when your child is online?
Remember, change does not happen overnight. It will occur in increments and may even fall back to old patterns. But with your patience, participation, and love, you can regulate your youngster’s gaming habits to a safe and satisfying level.
“The outcomes of gaming disorder are measured by small steps,” avers Dr. Filomeno. “If he reduces his gaming from 8 hours to 7 hours, that’s already a big win. Small steps are still better than setting impossible expectations.”
For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. Follow @IamMakatiMed on Facebook and Twitter.
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