Prevalence of Gaming Disorder and Psychological Distress Among Male Adolescents in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory

Gaming disorder, recently recognized by the World Health Organization as a clinical entity, is increasingly prevalent among adolescent males in urban Nigerian settings where access to smartphones and gaming platforms has grown significantly. This study investigates the prevalence of gaming disorder and its association with psychological distress among male adolescents in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional design will recruit 240 male secondary school students aged 13 to 18 from six schools through stratified random sampling. The Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF) will assess gaming disorder, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) will measure psychological distress. Screen time logs, academic performance records, and data on parental supervision will supplement self-report measures. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression will identify predictors of gaming disorder. Literature on digital addiction among Nigerian adolescents remains sparse, though reports from urban centers like Abuja suggest rising clinical presentations. This study will inform school-based digital wellness programs and contribute to clinical guidelines for adolescent psychiatry in FCT. Keywords: gaming disorder, psychological distress, male adolescents, Abuja, digital addiction