Prospective Investigation of Video Game Use in Adolescents and Subsequent Conduct Disorder and Depression

INTRODUCTION: There is increasing public and scientific concern regarding long-term behavioural effects of violent video game use in children, but there is currently little consensus in the literature as to the nature of any such relationships. The aim of the present study was to investigate violent game use in children, degree of violence in games, and subsequent relationship to depression or aggressive behaviour.

METHODS: Data from 2,661 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children were used. A stratified measure of game use at age 8/9 years was developed, taking into account degree of violence. Associations with conduct disorder and depression, measured at age 15, were investigated using ordinal logistic regression, adjusted for a number of potential confounders.

RESULTS:  Violent video game use was associated with increased risk of being categorised in a higher conduct disorder band. Those who played non-violent games had the lowest risk, followed by those who played no video games, those who played moderately violent games, and those who played very violent games. No association was found between number of games played and conduct disorder, nor between video game use and depression. 

CONCLUSIONS: There is a positive association between violent video game use at age 8/9 years and risk of conduct disorder at age 15 years. However, violent video game use does not appear to be associated with depression.