Study suggests video games can help mental health 0

[Ares]

https://www.680news.com/2020/11/16/study-suggests-video-games-can-help-mental-health/

LONDON — Time spent playing video games can be good for mental health, according to a new study by researchers at Oxford University.

The finding comes as video game sales this year have boomed as more people are stuck at home because of the pandemic and many countries have once again imposed limits on public life.

The paper released Monday is based on survey responses from people who played two games, Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

In a first, the study used data provided by the game makers, Electronic Arts and Nintendo of America, on how much time the respondents spent playing, unlike previous research that relied on imprecise estimates from the players.

The researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute said they found the actual amount of time spent playing was a small but significant positive factor in people’s well-being.

The paper, which hasn’t been peer reviewed, said the level of enjoyment that players get from a game could be a more important factor for their well-being than mere playing time.

The results could cast doubt on long-held assumptions that gaming causes aggression or addiction, though the authors acknowledge they are only a snapshot.

“Our findings show video games aren’t necessarily bad for your health; there are other psychological factors which have a significant effect on a persons’ well-being,“ said Andrew Przybylski, the institute’s director of research.

“In fact, play can be an activity that relates positively to people’s mental health – and regulating video games could withhold those benefits from players.”

 

Some 2,756 players of Animal Crossing: New Horizons in the U.S., U.K. and Canada were surveyed along with 518 players of Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville. They were asked to fill out a survey on their experiences that was matched up against playing time logged by the game companies.

Lack of transparency from game makers has long been an issue for scientists hoping to better understand player behaviours and the authors said previous research used to propose advice for parents and policymakers was done without a robust evidence base.

The Associated Press

[theCapraAegagrus]

Not if you play any EA Sports games.

[RedRaven]

It's psychology, apart from a few studies based on a handful of well established psychometrics, nothing is consistently reproducible and you can prove anything your heart desires. I'm sure there is another study proving video games promote feelings of depression and alienation.

[wilbil]

22 minutes ago, RedRaven said:

It's psychology, apart from a few studies based on a handful of well established psychometrics, nothing is consistently reproducible and you can prove anything your heart desires. I'm sure there is another study proving video games promote feelings of depression and alienation.

i concur, for the simple reason that the military started this type of research in the early 60s.

i still have my notes from a class given by bill higinbotham in 1967. he discussed spacewar and pong, and the future command and control methodology and psychological effects, and the innovations that would eventually replace toggle and button systems, and war gaming preparation. psyops was a big thing then, and the military was very interested in the psychological effect of fire and forget on troops.

[Ken Aldred]

Likely quite helpful for people with autism and also others with some degree of spatial impairment, personally falling into both of those categories.  Common for Aspergers like myself to be fascinated by immersion in a virtual reality that is more controllable and less overwhelming than the world around us.  Here, open world RPG environments such as Witcher 3 or Horizon Zero Dawn , or adventure games such as Uncharted and Tomb Raider containing spatially-orientated puzzles and exploration.  FPS games I feel can be quite cathartic, Soulsborne or high difficulty games more about strategising, analysis, and trying to improve response and dexterity.  

 

Edited November 18, 2020 by Ken Aldred

[Ken Aldred]

Another potentially constructive application might have been seen during Covid lockdown this year.  I’m very tolerant of such a high degree of persistent isolation, but I’ve read news reports of people at the opposite end of the spectrum who’ve self harmed or committed suicide.  Instead of the cabin fever of staring at four walls and allowing anxiety and frustration to ascend to dangerous levels, I can’t see how immersion in a virtual, gaming environment can be that detrimental.  The option to shift focus and explore a ruin in Mexico, go riding around the countryside in an RPG open world, etc.

Hardly a panacea, but maybe one option for vectoring mental health in a more relaxed, positive direction for some.

Edited November 18, 2020 by Ken Aldred

[Carolyntgi]

I thought it was already known. Unless, of course, we're talking about aggressive games with murder and violence. In that case, the game is destructive to the psyche. Although, I've noticed that games like CS: go are chosen by psychopaths. No offense intended, just a personal observation. I will always choose to play Minecraft. It is a relaxing game that develops spatial thinking, coordination, and creativity. I like Minecraft skyblock servers. Of course, they all are not the same, so I find it interesting. This server is good for developing ingenuity. Also, not bad pixelmon.

Edited April 17, 2022 by Carolyntgi

[Bird]

let me guess, the research was conducted by 16 year old males

it is too general to say "video games" do much of anything...watching and playing violence does indeed have negative mental health/behavior effects but playing MYST won't have those same effects

but video games are no more corrupting or unhealthy than tv, rock'n'roll, rap music, or even comic books!

[Ken Aldred]

On 4/13/2022 at 3:08 PM, Carolyntgi said:

Unless, of course, we're talking about aggressive games with murder and violence. In that case, the game is destructive to the psyche.

For FPS games I tend to stick to demons from hell or parallel universe Nazis, where self-defence is justifiable. And cathartic.

[Sauce Dog]

A few other studies also found benefits, such as this one exploring how playing Tetris after a traumatic event could alleviate the formation of intrusive thoughts and PTSD.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5678449/