SYDNEY, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Australian children are developing gaming addiction and problematic smartphone use at much younger ages than previously believed, said new research from Macquarie University.
The study, which surveyed nearly 2,000 students, found that some children as young as 10 are showing clinical-level symptoms of gaming disorder, according to a release from the Sydney-based university on Friday.
Four percent of surveyed children displayed signs of clinical or sub-clinical Internet Gaming Disorder, with no significant difference between primary and secondary school students. Additionally, 10 percent were at moderate to high risk of smartphone addiction, the study, published in Current Psychology, revealed.
"Most work on screen use disorders in children focuses on 15 and 16-year-olds, but we know these issues are beginning earlier and earlier," said lead researcher Brad Marshall, a psychologist at Macquarie University.
The findings, which challenge the assumption that problematic gaming is mainly a teenage issue, called for early intervention strategies, including parent education and school-based initiatives, to address the growing problem. ■
