Video Games Linked to Improved Mental Well-Being, According to New Study
Recent research has revealed that playing video games can enhance an individual’s well-being, challenging the negative perceptions often associated with this pastime. This study conducted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic offers new insights into the positive mental health effects of gaming.
“If you enjoy your hobby, it’s likely to have a positive impact on your well-being,” states a researcher from Nihon University in Japan.
Despite the World Health Organization’s classification of “gaming disorder” in 2019, studies on video games’ impact on mental health yield mixed results. Many traditional lab studies fail to capture the true experience of gaming, indicating a gap in understanding the real-world effects, according to experts in the field.
Between 2020 and 2022, a unique opportunity arose when several regions in Japan introduced lotteries for the highly sought-after PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch due to a nationwide scarcity. This allowed researchers to analyze the effects of video gaming on mental health in a real-world setting.
The study surveyed 8,192 participants aged 10 to 69 who had entered the lotteries, examining their gaming habits alongside indicators of psychological distress.
The findings indicated that lottery winners reported slightly better mental health outcomes compared to those who did not win, though these benefits plateaued after approximately three hours of gaming per day.
Moreover, the researchers utilized machine learning techniques to analyze how demographics and console type impacted mental wellness. Younger individuals who owned a Nintendo Switch reported greater benefits than older players, while non-parents with a PlayStation 5 experienced more significant improvements compared to parents.
“To fully understand the impact of video games, we must be precise about what aspects we’re measuring,” noted an expert in the study. However, the reliability of self-reported gaming hours raises questions about the accuracy of the data.
Both researchers emphasized that the study’s context during the pandemic could have influenced gaming behaviors and mental health outcomes. Future research utilizing similar methodologies may provide further clarity on these trends beyond the pandemic environment.
