Virtual Battlefields, Real-Life Consequences: Exploring the Impact of PUBG Addiction on Aggression, Depression, and Suicidality Among Adolescents in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) is becoming a popular game among young people and has been raising concerns about its effects on their mental health in the developing world, including Pakistan.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between PUBG addiction and aggression, depression and suicidality among adolescents in Pakistan. It also analyzed the mediating effect of aggression and depression between the relationship of PUBG addiction and suicidality.

The present study was designed on a cross sectional design and 100 male students (Age 15-25) of educational institutions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were taken as the sample. The participants were administered the Game Addiction Scale (GAS), Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI). Data was analyzed using correlation, independent samples t-tests and mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro in SPSS.

There was a significant positive relationship between PUBG addiction and aggression, depression and suicidality (all p < .01). Participants with higher addiction levels were significantly more depressed and had higher ideation for suicide than those with lower addiction levels. The results of mediation analysis revealed that aggression and depression partially mediated the relationship between PUBG addiction and suicidality.

This suggests that in Pakistan, overuse of PUBG is correlated with negative psychological consequences in adolescent. To reduce the risk of suicidality in this population, interventions that address gaming addiction, depression, aggression could be utilized. A longitudinal study is suggested to validate these results.