Online Gaming among young adults during COVID-19 Lockdown in India – Implications for Social Work Practice

Abstract

As COVID-19 threw life out of gear, there were a wide range of human responses to find respite from the chaos and uncertainty. One predominant pursuit that witnessed a surge during COVID-19 lockdown was online gaming. This study set in the Indian context sought (a) to understand the online gaming practices and experiences of young adults during COVID-19 lockdown in India, (b) to assess the extent of online gaming disorder, (c) to test the significance of socio-demographic factors on internet gaming disorder, and (d) to identify the implications for social work practice. Data were collected through an online survey among Indian youth aged between 15 years and 29 years who engaged in online gaming (n=501) during the COVID-19 lockdown. Findings revealed that respondents played for more than five hours per day, preferred battle arena games and used mobile phones for the gaming experience. Instances of gaming disorder have also been identified. The beneficial and detrimental aspects of online gaming provide ample scope for application in social work practice. This paper presents the implications for social work practice in this context and puts forth suggestions.