Healthcare Providers Urged to Screen Young Gamers for Physical and Mental Health Concerns
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician associates (PAs) are increasingly encountering physical and mental health issues in young patients due to excessive gaming. These concerns include musculoskeletal problems like abnormal spinal curvature and repetitive strain injuries (e.g., De Quervain tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome), sleep disturbances due to blue light exposure, vision strain, and sedentary behavior leading to obesity and vitamin deficiencies. Psychosocially, excessive gaming is linked to anxiety, depression, ADHD, and social withdrawal. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a maximum of two hours of extracurricular screen time daily for children aged six and older. Healthcare providers are advised to inquire about screen time during all well-child visits and to screen for underlying psychological concerns if excessive screen time is reported, differentiating between excessive gaming and gaming disorder.