Search

Gaming related experiences and addictive behaviours are emerging causes of adverse psycho-social health such as depression, anxiety, in adolescents and young adults around the world. Nonetheless, there remains a dearth of information relating to adolescents and young adults in India, a country which has millions of gamers. Present study examined the effects of massively multiplayer online role-playing games on the psychological health and inter-personal relationships of adolescents and young male adults of sub-urban Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Questionnaires were used to collect data on socio-economic and lifestyle traits, psychological health and inter-personal relationships were obtained from both gamers (n = 150) and non-gamers (n = 150). Data on gaming experiences and addiction were obtained only from gamers. MANCOVA and linear regression were performed to understand the effects of socio-economic and lifestyle traits, gaming experience and addiction traits on psychological health and inter-personal relationships of gamers. Study findings revealed that both gamers and non-gamers derived from a similar age group (mean age = 19.94 years) and socio-economic cluster. Disparities in psychological health in terms of depression, anxiety and stress and inter-personal relationship in terms of parent and peer attachments were present across social groups and between gamers and non-gamers. Various problematic gaming experiences and gaming related addictive behaviours resulted in poor psychological health and inter-personal relationship with parents and peers. Male gamers were at high risk to develop adverse psychological health and poor inter-personal relationships with parents and peers due to problematic gaming experience and gaming addiction. Proper education and counselling regarding the beneficial and detrimental sides of gaming may ensure better psycho-social health of adolescents and young adults in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out in Kolkata to find out the prevalence of hypertension among bus drivers and if any concomitant factor(s) is/are responsible for it. Bus drivers, a vulnerable occupational group, are exposed to adverse workplace environmental conditions which play major role in developing hypertension among them. This study indicates that a prolonged exposure to smoking, alcohol, street food intake and overtime working may augment the chance of developing hypertension. Prevalence of pre-hypertension is a matter of concern for the safety of bus drivers as well as of community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]