Digital Detriment: The Impact of Online Gaming Duration on Non-Cognitive Abilities Development in Rural Chinese Children

Xin Zhang; Zhihua Jiang; Bo Yi; Sien Huang; Yuxin Li

doi:10.47297/wspiedWSP2516-250003.20250904

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Digital Detriment: The Impact of Online Gaming Duration on Non-Cognitive Abilities Development in Rural Chinese Children

Volume 9, Issue 4

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Digital Detriment: The Impact of Online Gaming Duration on Non-Cognitive Abilities Development in Rural Chinese Children
Digital Detriment: The Impact of Online Gaming Duration on Non-Cognitive Abilities Development in Rural Chinese Children
College of Economics and Management, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
Vol. 9, Issue 4, Pages: 15-26(2025)
Published：23 April 2025
DOI：10.47297/wspiedWSP2516-250003.20250904
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Zhang Xin,Jiang Zhihua,Yi Bo,et al.Digital Detriment: The Impact of Online Gaming Duration on Non-Cognitive Abilities Development in Rural Chinese Children[J].Journal of International Education and Development,2025,09(04):15-26.
DOI：

Zhang Xin,Jiang Zhihua,Yi Bo,et al.Digital Detriment: The Impact of Online Gaming Duration on Non-Cognitive Abilities Development in Rural Chinese Children[J].Journal of International Education and Development,2025,09(04):15-26. DOI： 10.47297/wspiedWSP2516-250003.20250904.

摘要

Abstract

This study is based on the data of the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS). By adopting the multilevel linear model and instrumental variable approach

it systematically explores the impact of online game duration on the non-cognitive abilities of rural children and the underlying mechanism. The research findings are as follows: (1) After controlling for individual

family

and school characteristics

for every one-hour increase in the average daily online game duration

the social integration

openness ability

positive emotions

and learning perseverance of rural children decrease by 0.014

0.007

0.012

and 0.033 standard deviations respectively (p<0.01). (2) The heterogeneity analysis indicates that boys

non-boarding children

and heavy online game users (more than 2 hours per day) are more significantly influenced. (3) The mechanism test reveals that online games indirectly affect the development of non-cognitive abilities through three channels: reducing the frequency of parent-child interaction

squeezing out physical exercise time

and taking up homework time. This research provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for formulating digital behavior intervention policies for rural children.

关键词

Keywords

references

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