Impact of prolonged video game use on high school students in Duitama, Colombia

Incidencia del uso prolongado de videojuegos en estudiantes de educación secundaria y media de Duitama, Colombia

Abstract

Background: Video game addiction is a growing problem among adolescents. This study aims to assess the level of video game addiction among middle and high school students at three public schools in Duitama, Colombia. Methods. A descriptive study was conducted, in which the Video Game Dependence Test (VDT) was administered to 885 students. Results. 78.1% of participants showed a low level of addiction, although cases with moderate and high levels were identified that could affect emotional well-being. A higher prevalence was also observed among males, particularly between ages 14 and 17. Conclusions. It is necessary to implement institutional strategies for early detection and awareness-raising within the educational community to promote responsible video game use and prevent addictive behaviors.