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Amara A, Omri N, Limam M, Bannour R, Mellouli M, Ghardallou M, Zedini C, Sahli J, Mtiraoui A. Video games and Facebook addiction among Tunisian adolescents: prevalence and associated factors. Int J Adolesc Med Health 2024; 36:111-121. [PMID: 38235542 DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2023-0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES As social media and online gaming technology have developed very rapidly over the last two decades, their paired issues are of growing concern worldwide. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of video game and Facebook addiction and its predictive factors among Tunisian in school adolescents. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study among in school adolescents in Sousse, Tunisia, over the first academic term of the 2019-2020 school year using a self-administered questionnaire to a randomly selected representative sample of 1,353 students. The valid Arabic version of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), the Video Game Addiction Scale (GAS-7), the Beck Depression Inventory Short Form (13 items) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED-C) were used to assess facebook addiction disorder (FAD), internet gaming disorder (IGD), depression and anxiety respectively. RESULTS More than one in four pupils (26.1 %; CI 95 %: 23.8-28.4 %) were identified as problematic video game users and almost a third of participants (32.5 %; CI 95 %: 30-35 %) reported FAD. IGD was significantly associated with FAD (p<0.001). Likewise, pupils exhibiting depressive symptoms as well as those with anxiety symptoms were significantly more likely to be problematic video games and Facebook users (p<0.001 for each). Being addicted to Facebook (AOR=1.83, 95 % CI: 1.18-2.81), experiencing anxiety disorders (AOR=2.43, 95 % CI: 1.52-3.88), being male (AOR=2.51, 95 % CI: 1.95-3.23) and spending more than 4 h per day surfing the net (AOR=2.55, 95 % CI: 1.65-3.96) were the determinants of IGD in the multivariate analysis. Similarly, being addicted to video games (AOR=1.82, 95 % CI: 1.21-2.73), experiencing anxiety disorders (AOR=1.85, 95 % CI: 1.20-2.86), having experienced academic failure (AOR=1.73, 95 % CI: 1.16-2.56), and spending more than 4 h per day on social media (AOR=3.75, 95 % CI: 2.38-5.90) were the predictors of FAD. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of problematic use of video games and Facebook is alarmingly high. Identifying risk factors can help screen high-risk adolescents. We need additional prevention measures addressing not just adolescents, but all risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amel Amara
- Research Laboratory "LR12ES03" - Department of Familial and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse - University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Nihel Omri
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Manel Limam
- Research Laboratory "LR12ES03" - Department of Familial and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse - University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Rania Bannour
- Research Laboratory "LR12ES03" - Department of Familial and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse - University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Menel Mellouli
- Research Laboratory "LR12ES03" - Department of Familial and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse - University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Mariem Ghardallou
- Research Laboratory "LR12ES03" - Department of Familial and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse - University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Chekib Zedini
- Research Laboratory "LR12ES03" - Department of Familial and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse - University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Jihene Sahli
- Research Laboratory "LR12ES03" - Department of Familial and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse - University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Ali Mtiraoui
- Research Laboratory "LR12ES03" - Department of Familial and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse - University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
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