The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the social lifestyles of millions of people all over the world. It is a serious threat to public health and has spread rapidly around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the first reported case, which originated in Wuhan, on January 12, 2020. Meanwhile, on January 25, 2020, the first case in Malaysia was reported. To break the Covid-19 chain, the Malaysian government imposed a Movement Control Order (MCO) on March 18, 2020. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the covid-19 outbreak on the gaming addiction situation among Malaysian adolescents through the implementation of MCO. METHODOLOGY: This study focuses on Malaysian adolescents aged 18 to 21 who engage in online gaming, either mobile gaming or desktop gaming. The study's methodology includes an online survey via Google Forms and an online focused group (FG) session. Before being invited to the focused group discussion, participants were asked to complete an online screening survey using Dr. Kimberly S. Young's Young - Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ; 1998). (FGD). The FGD result is recorded and transcribed for the analysis process. RESULT: Participants reported spending 4 to 5 hours on weekdays and more than 6 hours on weekends playing Mobile Legend (ML), their preferred online gaming platform. Furthermore, it was reported that siblings and friends influenced respondents to participate in online gaming.
Alavi, S. S., Ferdosi, M., Jannatifard, F., Eslami, M., Alaghemandan, H., & Setare, M. (2012). Alavi, S. S., Ferdosi, M., Jannatifard, F., Eslami, M.Behavioral Addiction versus Substance Addiction: Correspondence of Psychiatric and Psychological Views. International journal of preventive medicine, 3(4), 290-294.
Al-Harahsheh, S., Ali, R., Al Motawaa, F., Sultan, A., Abdelmoneium, A., Baghdady, A., . . . Al-Meer, F. (2021). Technology Overuse Amongst Adolescents in Qatar Preliminary Report. Qatar: World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH).
Al-Mourad, M., McAlaney, J., Skinner, T., Pleva, M., & Ali, R. (2020). Defining Digital Addiction: Defining Digital Addiction from the Literature. PSIHOLOGIJA, Vol. 53(3), 237-253.
Alrobai, A. (2018). Enginering Social Networking to Combat Digital Addiction: The Case of Online Peer Groups. Diss Bournemouth University.
Ariffin, M. R. K., Gopal, K., Krishnarajah, I., Che Ilias, I. S., Adam, M. B., Arasan, J., & Mohammad Sham, N. (2021). Mathematical epidemiologic and simulation modelling of first wave COVID-19 in Malaysia. Scientific Reports, 1-10.
Babiu, R., Babiu, D., Martinac, M., Pavloviu, M., Vasilj, I., Miljko, M., & Vasilj, M. (2018). ADDICTIONS WITHOUT DRUGS: CONTEMPORARY ADDICTIONS OR WAY OF LIFE? Medicinska naklada (pp. 371 - 379). Zagreb, Croatia: Psychiatria Danubina.
Benson, P. L., & Bundick, M. (2015). ERIKSON AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT:CONTEMPORARY VIEWS ON AN ENDURING LEGACY. Journal of Child and Youth Care Work, 195-205.
Billieux, J., Stein, D. J., Castro?Calvo, J., Higushi, S., & King, D.L. (2021). Rationale for and usefulness of the inclusion of gaming disorder in the ICD?11. World Psychiatry, 20(2), 198.
Bukatko, D. (2008). Child and adolescent development: A chronological approach. Boston: MA: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Cemiloglu, D., Almourad , M. B., McAlaney, J., & Ali, R. (2022). Combatting digital addiction: Current approaches and future directions. Technology in Society, 68, 101832.
Cherry , K. (2021). The Work and Theories of Sigmund Freud. Retrieved from very well mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/sigmund-freud-his-life-work-and-theories-2795860
Cherry, K. (2021). Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development. Retrieved from very well mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-2795740?print
Christakis, D. A. (2019). The Challenges of Defining and Studying 'Digital Addiction' in Children. American Medical Association Volume 321, Number 23, 2277 - 2278.
Ciranka, S., & van den Bos, W. (2019). Social Influence in Adolescent Decision-Making: A Formal Framework. Frontiers in Psychology, 10:1915.
Deutrom, J., Katos, V., Al-Mourad, M., & Ali, R. (2022). The Relationships between Gender, Life Satisfaction, Loneliness and Problematic Internet Use during COVID-19: Does the Lockdown Matter? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1325.
Drolet, M., & Arcand, I. (2013). Positive Development, Sense of Belonging, and Support of Peers among Early Adolescents: Perspectives of Different Actors. International Education Studies, Vol 6, No 4, 29-38.
Elengoe, A. (2020). COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia. Osong public health and research perspectives, 11 (3), 93.
Erickson, E. H. (1958). Young man Luther: A study in psychoanalysis and history. New York: Norton.
Erikson E. H. (1982). The life cycle completed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Erikson, E. (1963). Identity: Youth and Crisis. London: Faber and Faber Ltd.
Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and society. New York: W W Norton.
Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and society. New York: Norton.
Erikson, E. H. (1959). Psychological issues. New York: International University Press.
Erikson, E. H. (1963). Youth: Change and challenge. New York: Basic Books.
Erikson, E. H. (1964). Insight and responsibility. New York: Norton.
Erikson, E. H. (1968). dentity: Youth and crisis. New York : Norton.
Fishbein, M., Ajzen, I., & Belief, A. (1975). Intention and Behavior: An introduction to theory and research.
Fisher, S., & Greenberg, R. P. (1996). Freud scientifically reappraised: Testing the theories and therapy. New York: Wiley.
Freud, S. (1905). Three essays on the theory of sexuality. Standard Edition 7:123- 246.
Hashim, J., Adman, M., Hashim, Z., Radi, M., & Kwan, S. (2021). COVID-19 epidemic in Malaysia: epidemic progression, challenges, and response. Frontiers in public health, 9.
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2008). Personal information of adolescents on the Internet: A quantitative content analysis of MySpace . Journal of Adolescence, 31, 125–146.
International Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders (ICD)-10 . (1992). International Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders (ICD)-10 . Geneva: World Health Organization.
Liu, M., Wu, L., & Yao, S. (2016). Dose–response association of screen time-based sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents and depression: a meta-analysis of observational studies. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50:1252-1258.
MALAYSIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MULTIMEDIA COMMISSION (MCMC). (2020). Internet Users Survey (IUS) 2020. Cyberjaya, Selangor: MCMC Statistical Publications.
Masrom, M. (2007). Technology Acceptance Model and E-learning. 12th International Conference on Education, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education.
McLeod, S. (2018). Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development. Retrieved from Simply Psychology: https://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html#:~:text=Erikson%20maintained%20that%20personality%20develops,negative%20outcome%20for%20personality%20development.
Rageliene , T. (2016). Links of Adolescents Identity Development and Relationship with Peers: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 97-105.
Rathus, S. (2013). Child and adolescence: Voyages in development. Belmont: CA: Cengage Learning.
Raypole, C. (2020). Types of Addiction and How They’re Treated. Retrieved from Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-addiction
Rogers, E. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). New York: A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Singh, A. K., & Singh, P. K. (2019). Digital Addiction: a conceptual overview. Library Philosophy and Practice.
Steinberg, L. (2008). A social neuroscience perspective on adolescent risk-taking. Developmental Review 28 , 78-106.
Widyanto, L., & McMurran, M. (2004). The Psychometric properties of the internet addiction test. Cyberpsychol Behav., 43-50.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Adolescent and young adult health. Retrieved from World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescents-health-risks-and-solutions
World Health Organization Portal. (2022). Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic. Retrieved from World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Zhou, Y. (2014). THE ADOPTION OF MIXED METHODS IN CHINA: AN EXPLORATORY INSTRUMENT DESIGN. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
