NSW Government funding supports multiple projects examining screen use, gaming, and digital learning to improve youth outcomes
University of Wollongong (UOW) researchers have been awarded $978,192 by the NSW Government across three projects to investigate the effects of video gaming and screen use on children and adolescent wellbeing and to develop resources that promote healthy digital engagement among young people.
The success of researchers from UOW's School of Education across the funding scheme highlights the research esteem and expertise in the study of children and digital technologies in our local region. The research will have direct benefits to children and adolescents across NSW, including our local region; and will also enrich the award-winning education programs offered within the School of Education.
Recent studies show that 93 per cent of 5 to 14-year-olds and 91 per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds play video games, averaging over 100 minutes of play per day. While gaming can provide social connection and enjoyment for many young people, problematic gaming behaviours are associated with concerning physical, psychological, and social harms.
Video game play and wellbeing
Dr Karley Beckman and Dr Tiffani Apps from the School of Education are lead investigators, along with investigators Dr Myrto Mavilidi and Professor Sue Bennett and researchers from Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland, and University of Victoria (Canada). The project 'Identifying the links between video game play and wellbeing will focus on developing resources for problematic play prevention among secondary students', which received $199,942 to analyse links between videogame play and wellbeing.
The research will build upon an existing National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas grant by expanding the scope to include adolescents aged 14-16, a crucial demographic where gaming habits can significantly impact development, learning, and wellbeing.
It is estimated that between 500,000 and 2 million young Australians exhibit symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), with a far greater number experiencing problematic play that falls below clinical thresholds but still negatively impacts education, health, and wellbeing.
Dr Karley Beckman said the research addresses a critical gap in our understanding of youth gaming behaviours.
"We know most young Australians play video games regularly, but little is known about the specific links between screen use related to gaming and adolescent wellbeing," Dr Beckman said.
"Not all screen time is equivalent – playing games with friends after school may have benefits such as combatting loneliness, while playing the same game alone late at night might lead to negative impacts on health, wellbeing, social skills, and reduced school engagement."
The research program consists of three key components:
- Identifying links between gaming habits and health, wellbeing, cognition, and learning among 1,000 Year 9 students across NSW;
- Establishing behavioural markers of problematic gaming by collecting and analysing telemetry data from participants' actual gameplay;
- Co-designing educational resources with students, parents, and teachers to promote healthy gaming habits and prevent problematic engagement.
Dr Tiffani Apps said the team will work directly with schools to develop educational initiatives for students.
"By working directly with schools, students, and families, we'll develop educational initiatives that help young people make informed choices about their gaming habits," Dr Apps said.
"Our resources will equip teachers and parents with tools to identify concerning behaviours and support positive digital engagement."
Best practice in screen use for education
Dr Tiffani Apps and Dr Karley Beckman are also part of a project team led by Professor Matt Bower from Macquarie University titled "Best practice in screen use for education: Empowering students, teachers and school communities for digital learning".
This project has been awarded $426,943 and includes researchers from Charles Sturt University, University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, Australian Catholic University, University of Newcastle, University of Sydney, University of New England, and Southern Cross University.
Exploring children's screen time through data analysis
Dr Dylan Cliff, a leading expert on the study of children's health and screentime, from UOW's School of Education is a Chief Investigator on a project titled "Seeing the bigger picture: Exploring children's screen time and outcomes through collaborative data analysis".
This project, led by Dr Taren Sanders from Australian Catholic University, has received $341,307 in funding and also involves researchers from La Trobe University, University of Queensland, Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, and Curtin University.
Supporting Screen use in young children
Additionally, UOW PhD student William Tregea has been awarded a scholarship worth $10,000 for his project "Healthy Bytes: Formative research to support screen use in young children living in south-western Sydney".
UOW Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Sustainable Futures) Dr Paul Di Pietro welcomed the university's contribution to this important area of research.
"These projects reflect UOW's commitment to addressing real-world challenges that affect the wellbeing of young Australians," Dr Di Pietro said.
"The digital landscape is rapidly evolving, and our researchers are at the forefront of understanding how these technologies impact our youth and how we can promote healthier engagement. This significant funding from the NSW Government recognises the expertise and innovation our researchers bring to this critical field."
The research findings will be published in academic journals and made accessible through mainstream media outlets. The research team will develop a repository of educational materials for students, parents, and educators to promote healthy digital engagement.
