Parent-Based Module for Preventing Gaming Disorder and Improving Self-Regulation Among Children

Background: Gaming disorder has become a significant health issue in pediatric care. While gaming is an important form of entertainment, excessive children's gaming may cause serious consequences for them and may be addicting. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a parent-based module for preventing gaming disorder and improving self-regulation among children. Design: A quasi-experimental research design. Setting: This study was carried out in two governmental schools; Khadija Bent Khuaylid and Al-khulafaa Alrashidin preparatory schools, at El-Maasara Administration, Cairo Governorate, Egypt. Sample: A multi-stage random sample was used composed of 314 children and their parents. Tools: Three tools were used in this study: 1) A Structured Interviewing Questionnaire for children and their parents. 2) Game Addiction Screening Test. 3) Self-Regulation Questionnaire for Children. Results: The current study revealed that nearly one-tenth of parents and children had poor knowledge, which changed to slightly less than three-quarters and two-thirds of parents and children respectively having good knowledge after the intervention. As well, before the intervention, slightly less than three-quarters had high game addiction and nearly four-fifths had low self-regulation, while after intervention they changed to more than three-fifths had low game addiction and less than three-fifths of children had high self-regulation. A negative statistically significant correlation was detected between children’s total knowledge scores and their total scores of the game addiction screening test as revealed by r = -0.132 and P<0.044. There was also a positive statistically significant correlation between children’s total knowledge scores and their self-regulation (r = 0.316 at p = 0.047) after 3 months of module intervention. Conclusion: Implementation of the parent-based module had positive effects in improving knowledge scores of children and their parents. As well, children’s game addiction scores were decreased and there was an improvement in children’s self-regulation after the implementation of parent-based module. There were negative statistically significant correlations between children’s game addiction with total knowledge and self-regulation scores. Recommendations: Parent-based module intervention guidelines on gaming disorder and self-regulation should be given to school-age children and their parents to prevent gaming disorder and improve their self-regulation, knowledge, and behaviors.  Further research is needed to understand the underlying causes of video and internet gaming addiction and to explore effective preventative or intervention strategies for these children.