risk factors.
Medical News Today lists a number of risk factors for addiction. Among those, these are pertinent to video game addiction:
- Genetics
- Gender
- Mental condition
- Family behavior
- Loneliness
- Stress
Alcoholism has been linked to specific genetic markers. This can be translated over to any type of addiction however, even video game addiction. A lack of endorphins, typical in someone with a tendency to addiction, has been proven to be genetic in nature. Research has also found that males are more likely to have problems with addiction to drugs, which could translate to video game addiction as well (however it could also be a product of the fact that more males play games than females). Mental health can also predispose someone to addiction, leaving them unable to control the cause of the addiction. Studies have found that people with weak family ties or problems with being alone have a tendency to being addicted as well.