Abstract

Objective:
This study aimed to identify the relationship between gaming addiction and back pain in Al-Ahasa, Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
This cross-sectional research was established among the Al-Ahsa population aged 12 years and older. A self-administered questionnaire, translated into Arabic, was distributed via a web link to the targeted population. The questionnaire included basic demographic data and questions to assess gaming addiction and the experience of back pain over the past two weeks.
Results:
A total of 616 participants were enrolled; 67.9% were males, and 57.8% were aged between 18 and 25 years. Approximately 24% of participants reported playing video games for at least 3-4 hours daily. The rate of gaming addiction was 41.6%. A higher prevalence of gaming addiction was observed in the age group 18–25 years and among males. Gaming addiction was positively associated with back pain experienced in the past two weeks. Participants with mild back pain were less prone to be addicted to gaming.
Conclusion:
Video game addiction was moderately prevalent in this study. Gaming addiction was found to increase the risk of back pain. Furthermore, addicted gamers were more likely to be males and in their twenties.

Key words: Back pain, gaming addiction, prevalence, correlation, Saudi Arabia.