Saudi study links video game use and loneliness to teens’ quality of life
A new Saudi study finds excessive video gaming and loneliness negatively impact quality of life among middle school students in Jubail Industrial City.
Key Takeaways
AIA recent scientific study by psychological and educational specialist Turki bin Saad Al-Saad has revealed a direct relationship between excessive use of video games, feelings of loneliness, and the quality of life among middle school students. The findings are based on field research conducted with students at Royal Commission schools in Jubail Industrial City.
The study, titled “Loneliness and Its Relationship to the Quality of Life of Excessive Video Game Users among Middle School Students,” has been deposited in the King Fahd National Library and several accredited scientific libraries. It aimed to assess levels of video game addiction and psychological loneliness, measure their impact on students’ quality of life, and develop a model explaining the nature of this relationship.
The researcher used a descriptive correlational approach, surveying a sample of 459 middle school students from Royal Commission schools in Jubail Industrial City. Specialized scientific scales were used to measure quality of life, psychological loneliness, and video game addiction.
The results showed that, overall, levels of video game addiction and feelings of loneliness were low among the sample, while students reported high levels of quality of life.
The study also found an inverse correlation between loneliness and quality of life. Students who used video games less reported higher quality of life compared to those who used them excessively. The results indicated that video game addiction and loneliness together accounted for 38.4% of the factors affecting students’ quality of life, with the remaining percentage attributed to other social and environmental factors.
The researcher concluded with several recommendations, most notably promoting digital balance among children, and strengthening the role of families and schools in encouraging students to participate in social and sports activities. These steps aim to reduce isolation linked to excessive screen use and support students’ psychological and social well-being.