Adolescents with Gaming Problems: The Singapore Counsellors' Perspective

Internet use has become an important part of the lives of children and adolescents in modern Singapore, and in this era of online communities and connectivity, problem gaming is emerging as a significant morbidity amongst youth. Correspondingly, cyber wellness services have been established in schools as well as non-government organisations. However, counsellors involved in providing these services come from different backgrounds with varying levels of training and experience. In this study, we surveyed counsellors who work with youths on their perceptions of youth gaming problems, their expertise and identified needs, and the relationship between gaming problems and maladaptive coping and/or social disenfranchisement. The results of this study indicated that most counsellors viewed gaming problems as an outcome as well as a perpetuating cause of social dysfunction and inadequate coping skills, with optimal interventions targeting these two aspects, and as a result, express interest in further equipping of therapy skills to negotiate social supports for such at-risk youths. These were identified as potential areas of further training for counsellors involved in cyber wellness programmes.