University Students’ Internet Addiction and the Relationship Between Online Gaming and Family Function in Karachi, Pakistan

Internet addiction in the student population is a chronic social issue in Pakistan. Parental supervision is required to counter the issue. This study identifies an association between online gaming disorder and family functions by studying university students in Karachi, Pakistan. It is a cross-sectional study and 350 university students were selected through a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. A validated and structured questionnaire assessed family functioning and internet addiction. Data was analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression to identify associations between family function and online gaming disorders. In total, 66 per cent of students were found to be addicted to videogames and 39 per cent of students were deficient in their role in the family. The decreased problem solving skills (Adjusted Odd Ratio AOR 2.02, 95 per cent CI 1.35-5.96, p-value 0.002), decreased roles in the family (AOR 2.99, 95 per cent CI 1.23-5.75, p-value 0.004) and bad communication skills (AOR 0.91, 95 per cent CI 0.59-2.94, p-value 0.567) were associated with severe online gaming disorder. This study reveals a strong association between disrupted family functions and internet addiction and provides new evidence on the complex interaction between individuals and interpersonal risk factors involved in addiction among young adults. Keywords: Games, Family, Internet Addiction, Students, University