Gamers around the world have always been told that the thing that brings them so much joy can very well have many negative effects. Of course, we all come across the occasional troll or two, and sometimes are prone to being “toxic”, so most of us are aware that gaming is not always a stress-free experience. Historically, video games have had a bad reputation, with researchers arguing that they may lead to more aggression and studies being focused on exploring the effects of video game addiction. However, this perception may be shifting, with recent studies by researchers at Oxfordshowing that video gaming can be very beneficial for your daily wellbeing.
Fostering Meaningful Connections
The stereotypical media portrayal of a gamer in a dark room, hunched over their computer, isolated from the world and all social interaction, is just no longer factual. In fact, over 70% of gamers play their games with a friend, either cooperatively or competitively. If you look at this under the recent social context of COVID-19, lockdowns, and social distancing, it can be argued that avid video gamers were perhaps one of the most socially connected groups. This can be corroborated by the increase in certain mass-multiplayer video games over 2020, showing that the average person may have noticed and appreciated the social value of video games. Studies show that we can go as far as to say mass-multiplayer games lead to an increase in social resilience and flourishing mental health.
An Outlet For Daily Frustration
If you know or are a gamer, you may be familiar with gaming as a tool to vent out frustration and find comfort. Just as many of us may turn to TV sitcoms, cooking, and other hobbies, gaming is such an activity that allows casual usage to effectively mitigate daily life stressors and frustration. Although, of course as with most things in life, all of these benefits can only be enjoyed if video games are played in moderation. Setting limits for yourself might be key here.
A Therapeutic Experience
Besides the daily life enrichment that video games may have, they can also have a much more powerful and deeper effect for some people – an effect bordering on therapeutic. To summarise from a recently published article about video games in the treatment of mental illness –
- There is mounting evidence that commercial video games, typically used for entertainment, could help alleviate depression and anxiety.
- Video games tend to be more affordable and accessible than traditional mental health services, which may help more people get essential care that they need and deserve.
- Although video games cannot replace traditional therapy, they could be used as a helpful addition in the treatment process.
Many researchers do recognize this therapeutic value that games, not limited to video or virtual gaming, have, especially for youth. For example, in a journal article detailing the benefits of video gaming published in 2014, researchers discussed a fantasy role-playing game based on cognitive behavioural therapy for depression and a randomized controlled trial showed it to be as effective in treating depression as a therapist-administered CBT program.
Changing the Narrative About Mental Health
Admittedly, the video game community has been responsible for many negative portrayals of mental health issues and disorders, with tropes like the “mad scientist” being an all too familiar one. However, over recent years, many video game developers have been focused on building games centred around not only accurately portraying certain mental health issues, but also helping combat the stigma surrounding these conversations. Here is a list of some of the top video games like this that have recently come out.
A Final Note
I do not expect many gamers to have actually read through this entire article, as what I have written here is what many in the gaming community are already familiar with or have had some intuition about. Therefore, this article may be geared more towards those who dabble in playing video games or think they might enjoy it but fear the “negative effects” that have been much more broadcasted than the positive. As someone who has been gaming for over ten years, there is usually something for everyone, and it is worth trying if you think it will benefit your mental health. The empirical evidence is there to support my anecdotal claims! As for the gamers that made it this far, the next time you want to pick up that controller, click on that steam sale, or run through that RDR2 story for the hundredth time, do not think twice!