Video Games Linked to Better Mental Health in Surprising Study

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by StudyFinds.

In a plot twist worthy of the most engaging video game, new research suggests that leveling up your gaming habits might just level up your mental health. The study turns the conventional wisdom about video games on its head, revealing that picking up a controller could be more than just a way to pass the time – it could be a power-up for your psychological well-being.

For years, parents, policymakers, and even some researchers have warned about the potential dangers of excessive gaming, from addiction to aggression. However, this new study, conducted in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic, provides compelling evidence that moderate gaming might actually be a winning strategy for improving mental health.

“Our findings challenge common stereotypes about gaming being harmful or merely providing temporary euphoria,” says Hiroyuki Egami, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at Nihon University, in a university release. “We’ve shown that gaming can improve mental health and life satisfaction across a broad spectrum of individuals.”

The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, analyzed survey responses from nearly 100,000 Japanese individuals between the ages of 10 and 69, collected between December 2020 and March 2022. Of these, about 8,200 had participated in console lotteries. The results were striking: lottery winners who obtained a new gaming console showed significant improvements in mental health compared to non-winners.

Perhaps most intriguingly, the study found that increased time spent gaming led to better mental health outcomes. However, the benefits began to taper off for those gaming more than three hours per day, suggesting moderation is key.

Source: StudyFinds
https://studyfinds.org/video-games-mental-health/