Video gaming and health-related components of fitness

Video gaming (VG) is a highly sedentary activity that has increased substantially in popularity over the past decade. Sedentary behaviour is associated with several health issues, including weight gain, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, evaluating the physiological and cognitive health-related components of fitness (HRCoF) in VG players (VGP) is important. The primary aim of this thesis was to investigate the relationship between VG and physiological and cognitive HRCoF. Chapter 2 comprised a systematic literature review that synthesised current evidence on the implications of VG for HRCoF in e-athletes and habitual VGP. Six articles were examined, identifying substantial research gaps, including adult male-dominated samples and limited HRCoF assessment. VG participation was associated with faster reaction times. Chapter 3 comprised a cross-sectional observational study investigating relationships between VG duration and HRCoF in adolescents and predicting HRCoF from weekly VG time. Participants were 180 adolescents (12.89 ± 1.43 years). Weekly VG duration and physical activity (PA) were self-reported, while flexibility, balance, handgrip strength, jump height, coordination and reaction time were measured. Generalised additive modelling assessed relationships between VG duration and HRCoF. VG was associated with faster reaction times but negatively associated with flexibility, balance, handgrip strength, jump height and coordination. Relationships with balance, jump height and coordination changed at 32.86, 28.04 and 41.31 h/week, respectively. Sex and age were positive predictors across the six HRCoF. Overall, findings support existing evidence that VG may enhance reaction time, while demonstrating that extended VG duration is negatively associated with other HRCoF in adolescents. This is the first study to identify these relationships in adolescents. Findings may inform parents, educators and policymakers when encouraging a balance between VG and PA. Future research should prioritise longitudinal and intervention studies to establish causality.