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An attendee pauses to text next to a sign for Epic Games’ Fortnite game at the annual video game expo E3 in Los Angeles, California, US, June 12, 2019. | Photo credit: Reuters
A study of nearly 100,000 people aged 10 to 69 in Japan found that playing video games – or even owning a console – can be good for mental health. But playing too much every day can be harmful to health.
Video games and other forms of online media consumption have become a part of everyday life. Slice of life,
Surveys have shown that playing video games can have a positive effect on children. Stress Levels and CreativityBut concerns remain Possible negative effects For example, general health, aggressive behaviour and social development, especially for young people.
World Health Organization Lists Gaming disorder is recognised as a mental health condition and as a condition of severe social withdrawal Hikikomori It has been described in Japan.
New survey shows link between gaming and health and researchers have found a way to show cause and effect – even owning a gaming console improves health.
What the study found
The research was conducted during the Covid pandemic between 2020 and 2022. The researchers used measures of psychological distress and life satisfaction and asked 97,602 people in Japan about their gaming use.
The survey coincided with supply chain shortages. This prompted retailers to use a lottery system for the purchase of two consoles: the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation 5. Of the overall survey group, 8,192 participated in the lottery.
The researchers compared 2,323 lottery winners to those who did not get the chance to buy a new console (across five rounds of surveys). They found that those who won the lottery had improved distress scores and better life satisfaction.
The results were not all positive. Over time, the scores indicated a decline in health for those who played more than three hours a day. The scores continued to decline with each additional increase in time measured.
There were some limitations to the study.
Firstly, the survey was conducted when the COVID pandemic had created a major crisis. particularly challenging times It is also beneficial for mental health. The changes brought in social, occupational and lifestyle behaviour.
The study focused mainly on general gaming habits, without distinguishing between different types of games, which may have different effects on mental health.
In addition, participants chose whether or not to participate in the lottery, so this was not a random sample. And the findings could not be specifically attributed to the effects of winning the lottery versus the effects of playing the video games in the study.
Ultimately, we know that self-reported studies Not always reliable,
Pros and cons of gaming
We know Other surveys Video games can be useful stress relievers and aid social connection (albeit online). We also know that some games can improve particular cognitive skills such as visual-spatial navigation and problem solving,
games and technology also especially Target mental health issuesaddressing social anxiety or phobias, such as ADHD reducing symptoms and enhancing motivation and performance.
Still, concerns remain about potential long-term consequences, particularly in the context of “real-life” cuts Socializationparticipation in physical activity, performance in school, and others health outcomesWhich includes sleep and eating related behavior.
3 tips for positive gaming
While video games may offer some benefits, it is important to maintain a balanced approach to gaming. Here are some tips to help manage gaming habits and promote overall well-being:
1. Set a deadline
Encourage moderate levels of gaming by setting clear time limits to ensure it doesn’t interfere with sleep, physical activity or other important daily activities. Australian Institute of Family Studies recommended Creating a media plan that includes limits on screen time and balancing gaming with other activities.
2. Choose the games wisely
Choose games that are age-appropriate and pay attention to their content. Some games may encourage children to Problem Solving Skills and CreativityBut it’s important to be mindful of those who might encourage aggression or excessive competition.
3. Keep track of eating and sleeping habits
Pay attention to eating patterns and make sure not to skip meals to play games. Encourage regular sleep patterns and avoid playing games close to bedtime. Prevent sleep disruption,
While the new study provides promising information about the potential positive effects of video games on mental health, these findings should be considered with caution due to the limitations of the survey.
While the potential benefits are encouraging, it is important to take a balanced approach to gaming and conduct further research to fully understand its long-term effects on mental health.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Original article,
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