Investigating Mobile Gaming Addiction and Musculoskeletal Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Medical Students in Jordanian Universities

Mobile gaming gained significant popularity among university students, with increasing evidence associating excessive usage with psychological and physical health disorders, most significantly musculoskeletal pain. Although there is rising global interest, there are insufficient studies examining this phenomenon among medical student populations that are particularly vulnerable due to academic pressures and extended device usage.

The purpose is to investigate the prevalence of mobile gaming addiction among medical students in the universities of Jordan to determine how it correlates with musculoskeletal pain, as well as explore relevant demographic and behavioral factors.

In this cross-sectional study, 364 medical students filled out an online questionnaire that contained personal data, gaming patterns, the 7-item Gaming Addiction Scale (GAS), and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Al-Balqa Applied University. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression, all conducted using SPSS v27.

9% of participants identified as having a mobile gaming addiction. An association was identified between addiction and musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the neck (85.3%), upper back (64.7%), elbows (41.2%), and wrists (41.2%) (p < 0.05). Logistic regression recognized elbow pain as a predictor of gaming addiction (AOR =4.64; CI 95%:2.13 – 10.07). Addicted students had more functional limitations and increased frequency of healthcare visits. The results show an association between mobile gaming addiction and upper-body musculoskeletal pain among medical students. These findings indicate the need for early preventive measures focused on digital health practices, especially within academically pressured groups. Awareness initiatives, posture training, and behavioral adjustment may reduce risks.

These findings indicate that mobile gaming addiction is associated with a higher burden of upper-body musculoskeletal pain, particularly in regions subjected to prolonged handheld device use, such as the neck, upper back, elbows, and wrists. This relationship, consistent with international evidence, suggests that gaming behavior may serve as an early physical marker of ergonomic stress among medical students, highlighting the need for targeted preventive and behavioral interventions.

Mobile gaming addiction and musculoskeletal disorders are associated among Jordanian medical students, particularly in the upper body regions, such as the neck, upper back, elbows, and wrists. Elbow pain, in particular, may serve as a potential physical marker of problematic gaming behavior in this population and highlights the need for ergonomic and behavioral interventions as well as targeted awareness campaigns to prevent the health risks associated with mobile gaming in educational facilities.