Anthony J Capozzoli
Jessica A. T. Gilpatrick
Research Paper Final Draft
October 12, 2014

How does video games affect youth negatively?

One of the main concerns that have constantly been raised against video games is that most of the games feature aggressive elements. This has led many people to assert that this may have a detrimental effect on individuals who play such games. Despite continuing controversy for over 15 years, there has been little in the way of systematic research. The one consistent finding is that the majority of the studies on very young children - as opposed to those in their teens upwards - tend to show that children do become more aggressive after either playing or watching a violent video game. Research suggests that children and teens that playing and watching video games over an extended period of time tend to be more aggressive, are more prone to struggle in school, and more prone to be obese or overweight.
One of the ways that the videogames affect children and teens that play and watch for an extended period of time is that they tend to be more aggressive. In “Children, Adolescents, and Television,” it has been stated that even more important than the amount of time spent playing video games is the content of games played (2001). Research shows that up to 90% of all video games contain some sort of violent content and in a survey of 213 adolescents, 99% of boys and 84% of girls said that at least one of their current video games has violent content. Some experts assert that there is clear evidence that exposure to violent video games increases the relative risk of aggressive behavior; some individuals are more susceptible than others, and multiple risk factors converge to produce aggressive or violent behavior (Funk, 2005). In 1990, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reaffirmed its concerns about the negative effects of videogames on children and adolescents and provided recommendations to pediatricians and parents for prevention and management of these effects (Children, Adolescents, and Television, 2001). Many professionals believe that the more a time a child spends playing these videogames the higher the risk for aggression.
Another huge point that is made about children and teens that play videogames for an extended period of time is that they are more prone to struggle in school. Teachers say that the biggest problem are is students’ attention span, with 71% saying that the use of videogames has hurt students either “a lot” (34%) as “somewhat” (37%) in that area (Children, teens, and entertainment media, 2013). Many teachers think students spend so much time with playing videogames that they neglect their homework and aren't prepared in class due to students having become accustomed to being entertained at all times and they bring that expectation into the classroom. Playing video games may mean spending less time reading or doing homework, according to new research on video games and children published in the July 2007 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (Video Games may Divert Kids from Homework, 2007). Research has shown that children and teens struggle in school due to the vast amount of time spent enjoying today’s videogames.
Finally, Children and teens that play violent videos games for an extended period of time are more prone to be obese or overweight.
"If all the work we are doing to promote physical fitness is working, then why does the problem continue to get worse," said Booth, who gave the Joseph B. Wolffe Memorial Lecture at the American College of Sports Medicine's recent annual conference. "We have increased sedentary activities for children by 4.5 times since 1950. Children and adolescents now spend 45 hours each week watching television, working on the computer, playing video games or watching movies (Pediatric Obesity, 2005).
Martin Stein wrote “Media's Effect on Obesity in Kids,” in which he stated that children and teens that play videogames more TV consume more calories, eat higher-fat diets, drink more soda, and eat fewer fruits and vegetables. In addition, advertisements for foods high in fat, salt, and sugar and low in nutritional content encourage children to choose unhealthy foods (2011). With more and more children spending hours upon hours in front of videogames that have poor eating habits, children and teens have opportunity to become overweight or obese.
It has been proven that children and teens who spend an extended period of time in front of videogames that they are affected in three key ways. The amount of time spent playing violent videogames makes them tend to be more aggressive. The main issue that most teachers seem to have with students who spent too much time with videogames is their inability to pay attention. Those youth who spend an exuberant amount of time with videogames have a bigger chance of becoming overweight or obese do to their inactivity. Again research has reiterated the emphasis that children and teens that play and watch videogames over an extended period of time tend to be more aggressive, are more prone to struggle in school, and more prone to be obese or overweight.

Cites Worked
“Children, Adolescents, and Television,” Pediatrics 107.2 (2001):423. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 Sept 2014.
Children, teens, and entertainment media: A view from the classroom. (2013). The Education Digest, 78(8), 21-30. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1324615004?accountid=3783
Funk, Jeanne B. "Video Games." Adolescent Medicine Clinics 16.2 (2005): 395,411, ix. ProQuest. Web. 7 Sep. 2014.
"Pediatric Obesity; 100% Childhood Obesity by 2044?" Science Letter (2005): 1275. ProQuest. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
Stein, Martin T. "Media's Effect on Obesity in Kids." Journal Watch. Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (2011) ProQuest. Web. 14 Sep. 2014.
"Video Games may Divert Kids from Homework." Leadership for Student Activities 10 2007: 40. ProQuest. Web. 7 Sep. 2014.