The competitive rush of gaming is rewiring the reward centres of young male brains, with new research revealing that one in ten boys will develop a clinically diagnosable gaming addiction before they turn eighteen.
While gaming offers a social lifeline for many, an international study led by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has uncovered a stark gender divide in how digital play transforms into a disorder.
The research, which tracked over 800 children from age 10 to 18, found that boys are significantly more vulnerable to “Internet gaming disorder” (IGD) than girls, largely due to the specific ways they interact with competitive digital environments.
“Around one in ten boys met the diagnostic criteria for computer game addiction called ‘Internet gaming disorder (IGD)’ at least once between the ages of 10 and 18,” says Lars Wichstrøm, a professor at NTNU’s Department of Psychology.
In comparison, the disorder is almost non-existent among girls, affecting just 1 to 2 per cent of the female demographic.
Negative consequences
The study identifies a lethal combination of “strong involvement” and “negative consequences” as the hallmark of the disorder.
Researchers suggest that the male propensity for addiction is not accidental but structural, tied to how boys socialise through activity-based competition rather than conversation.
“Research has shown that dopamine is released during gaming, mostly when you are doing well and especially in competition with others,” says Beate W. Hygen, a senior researcher at NTNU Social Research AS.
“Boys play competitive games more often, which can result in more frequent dopamine releases. Perhaps this is also part of the explanation for why boys are more often hooked on gaming.”
This biological feedback loop creates a powerful hook. The brain’s reward centre activates not just when a player wins, but even when they simply expect a positive experience, reinforcing the behaviour loop.
A worrying picture
The data, drawn from the long-term Trondheim Early Secure Study, paints a worrying picture of escalation.
The proportion of children heavily involved in gaming rises steadily from age 10, peaking at age 16. While the total time spent gaming often drops as teenagers reach 18, the study found that for the addicted cohort, the damage is already done.
“Despite the fact that gaming decreased for the 18-year-olds, the negative consequences remained stable,” says Wichstrøm.
This stability suggests that while many teenagers naturally outgrow excessive play, a specific subgroup remains trapped in patterns that harm their ability to function in the real world.
The researchers emphasise that parents cannot afford to “wait and see”. The trajectory for addiction is often set in early adolescence, making age 12 a critical window for intervention.
“Children who are heavily involved in gaming as they approach their teenage years are more likely to become even more involved later on,” warns Wichstrøm. “They also experience negative consequences more often, especially when they are 14 to 18 years old.”
