The Implication Of Video Games On Mental Health And Well-being Revealed In Recent Research

By Author: Stephanie Ellison
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The speculation that video games are bad for mental and physical health has been around for decades now. They are even said to make people more violent and less compassionate. All these fears and allegations have become acute in recent years. Even WHO has created a gaming disorder classification for those who prioritize gaming over socializing and other interests. It has been debated for years now, where the policymakers should do something about it or not. However, a recent study has come up with some surprising conclusions that might put decades of debates to rest. 

Oxford Internet Institute researched two games to see the long- and short-term effects of gaming on individual well-being and happiness.
Plant vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville along with Animal Crossing: New Horizons was selected for the study. Three researchers from the institute looked at the data from the games to come to some surprising conclusions. The study made a crucial change in their method, and instead of relying on self-reported game time, they took data from Nintendo and EA, which was never done in the past. 

The study concluded that there is no evidence to support the argument that playing games for long-periods is detrimental to personal health. In most cases, other factors play a much crucial role in making it a negative experience. Moreover, the lead author also stated that playing games even related positively to people’s mental health. So, not only is gaming not detrimental for personal health, it can even be good for mental health. 

Another interesting conclusion of the study was about the relation between people’s well-being and their time playing games. The researchers noticed that the longer time people spent playing games, the happier they were. It meant that the common belief that video games led to depression was not rooted in reality. The subjective experience during playtime was also an essential factor that was crucial in determining how much happiness an individual could get out of the experience. The study also concluded that Animal Crossing made the players happier than other games because of the gameplay’s social aspects.

However, the researchers did have a word for caution for a specific group of players who use the virtual world as an escape from their real-world problems. When people were overly invested in gaming, and their psychological needs were not met in the real world, the researcher observed a negative correlation between happiness and gaming. When people become addicted to gaming, just like alcohol and drugs, it becomes essential to sort it out as soon as possible. Although such gamers are very few, the conclusion that gaming is a positive experience still stands true for most people. 

It seems like the decades of debate over the adverse effects of gaming on personal health were not grounded in reality. There was no research that backed up such claims, so therefore the recent study is critical since it has shed light on the popular dangers of gaming. Now, even people who distanced themselves from it might consider trying since the study’s conclusion said it could have positive effects on mental health. With mental health issues on the rise, video games might prove to be the right escape.

Source: https://mcafeecomactivateusa.wordpress.com/2020/11/25/the-implication-of-video-games-on-mental-health-and-well-being-revealed-in-recent-research/