Computer placement at home can affect addiction: research

The location of a computer in the home is closely related to whether a student develops Internet addiction, according to the results of a survey by a research team at Asia University in Taichung.

Ko Huei-chen (???), a chair professor of the university who led the research team, said an analysis of data compiled in 2015 found that the ratio of addiction almost doubled if the computer was placed in the student's room rather than in an open space.

The ratio of a student becoming addicted to computer games was 11.8 percent if the computer was placed in the room, compared with only 6.2 percent when the computer was placed in a more public space.

Ko noted that if the computer is in a public space, like a living room, it is easier for parents to monitor their children and nurture better usage habits, which is less easy if the computer is in the child's room.

She said that past cases have shown that children tend to turn on the computer when their parents go to bed, and that they tend to play even more fiercely when confronted with important school examinations because they are under pressure.

She also said that if a child is socially withdrawn, combined with a "medium or high level of game addiction," he or she may be prone to violent behavior.

She said that if there is a proper "protective environment," meaning growing up in an environment that stresses love, tolerance and harmony, it will be less likely for the child to develop aggressive behavior.

Cheng Chieh (??), who committed a series of random killings on the Taipei MRT system in May 2014 that killed four people, was said to spend around 10 hours a day in the virtual world, and loved especially violent computer games.

Ko said that the reasons for bullying and other aggressive behavior are multifold, and difficult to attribute to one single factor, but much research suggests that computer addiction is definitely a major risk factor.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel