Prolonged Mobile Gaming and Academic Outcomes: An Empirical Investigation among University Students

Abstract

This study examines the effect of mobile gaming behaviors on the academic outcomes of the Kathmandu Valley university students. As smartphone usage is on the rise, students are increasingly playing games and using social media for hours at a time, which is creating a negative effect on their study concentration. In this quantitative cross-sectional study, data were collected from 97 students studying at Tribhuvan University through structured questionnaires and analyzed the data by using SPSS for correlation and regression. The findings revealed that among the variables studied gaming time, social media use, and gaming addiction only gaming addiction significantly contributed to low academic achievement. The study reveals that addictive gaming behaviors and not total screen time are more detrimental to students' academic performance. This research highlights awareness campaigns, digital literacy, and wellness programs to facilitate improved online behavior among young university students.