Check out my second blog for a quick primer on video game addiction: what is it and is it real? Spoiler alert: yes, it is real and is now referred to as “gaming disorder”.
Gaming Disorder: What do we know so far?
Given that gaming disorder remains a relatively new disorder, researchers across the globe continue to tease apart the difference between non-problematic levels of gaming versus gaming disorder, an addiction.
However, it is likely that only a small fraction of people who play games will meet criteria for addiction. Research is ongoing to understand this emerging disorder. Here is what we know so far:
Benefits of gaming
Research has shown that gaming can bolster a range of cognitive skills including spatial navigation, reasoning, memory, and perception. This is particularly true for first-person shooter games, where gamers often have to navigate a novel environment.
Additionally, gaming can enhance the development of problem-solving skills; this is especially true for those who played strategic games, such as role-playing games. Children’s creativity can also be augmented by playing games.
Although gaming may appear to be a socially isolating activity, this is not always the case. Multiplayer games create virtual communities that come with an abundance of decision-making points, such as who to trust and how to lead a group. Furthermore, technological advances such as Discord allows for gamers to chat with friends as they game, highlighting a potential remedy in tackling the ongoing pandemic of loneliness and social isolation, which has been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals who play games that encourage cooperation are more altruistic and helpful to others when gaming versus those who play competitively.
Even if you may not consider yourself a gamer, I am sure you have picked up a simple game at least once in your lifetime. Think: “Candy Crush” or “Angry Birds”. These games are easy to access and learn, and can be played quickly, be it during your morning commute (pre-COVID) or at a lunch break. We are drawn to games because they can promote relaxation, improve mood, and mitigate anxiety. It might just make you happier since it is a fun and entertaining pastime, highlighting potential crucial emotional benefits to gaming, when played in moderation.
Negative consequences of gaming
However, when gaming is not engaged in moderation, a plethora of consequences can arise, from physical to psychological health effects, including gaming disorder. This is where my next blog will take us, so stay tuned!
Further reading on gaming benefits in children
Photo by Afif Kusuma on Unsplash
