A Descriptive Study to Assess the Internet Gaming Addiction among Early Adolescents at Selected High Schools in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh

India has the largest population of adolescents in the world. The future of India is shaped by this age group. Internet Gaming Addiction is one of the major problems of this generation. Early identification of this problem is very essential to diagnose, as it is characterized by uncontrollable and persistent playing of video and computer games, which is harmful to individual’s well being. The objective of this study is to assess the internet gaming addiction among early adolescents at selected high schools in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. Systematic Random Sampling method was used to select the sample of 500 early adolescents. The data collection was done by using self administered standard tool i. e. , Modified Internet Addiction Test (IAT) by Dr. Kimberly Young. Data obtained was tabulated and analyzed in terms of objectives of the study using descriptive and inferential statistics. The data showed that Early adolescents with no internet gaming addiction were 195 (39 %), mild internet gaming addiction was seen in 140 (28 %), moderate internet gaming addiction was in 136 (27.2 %) and severe internet gaming addiction was in 29 (5.8) with 73.3448 mean value and 2.85702 standard deviation. There was statistically significant association with their demographic variables such as age, gender, class of study, presently residing with, father’s education and have you attended any health awareness programme.