Video game play is positively correlated with well-being
People have never played more video games, and many stakeholders are worried that this activity might be bad for players. video game So far, research has not had adequate data to test whether these worries are justified and if policymakers should act to regulate video game play time. We attempt to provide much-needed evidence with adequate data. being. Need satisfaction and motivations during play did not interact with play time but were instead independently related to well-being. Our results advance the field in two important ways. First, we show that collaborations with industry partners can be done to high academic standards in an ethical and transparent fashion. Second, we deliver much-needed evidence to policymakers on the link between play and mental health.
1. Introduction
Video games are an immensely popular and profitable leisure activity. Last year, the revenues of the games industry were larger than the film industry’s [1] and the number of people who report playing games has never been higher [2]. Across the globe, the rise of games as a dominant form of recreation and socializing has raised important questions about the potential effect of play on well-being. These questions concern players, parents, policymakers and scholars alike: billions of people play video games, and if this activity has positive or negative effects on well-being, playing games might have worldwide health impacts. Therefore, empirically understanding how games might help or harm players is a top priority for all stakeholders. It is possible games are neutral with respect to health and enacting policies that unnecessarily regulate play would restrict human rights to play and freedom of expression [3]. Decisions on regulating video games, or promoting it as a medium for bolstering health, thus come with high stakes and must not be made without robust scientific evidence.
Unfortunately, nearly three decades of research exploring the possible links between video games and negative outcomes including aggression, addiction, well-being and cognitive functioning have brought us nowhere near a consensus or evidence-based policy because reliable, reproducible and ecologically valid studies are few and far between (e.g. ). In recent years, researchers and policymakers have shifted focus from concerns about violent video games and aggression (e.go concerns about the association between the amount, or nature, of the time people spend playing video games and well-being (e.g. in the In other words, they are interested in the effect of game play behaviours on subjective well-being and by extension mental health. Yet, instead of measuring such behaviour directly, research has relied on self-reported engagement. Historically, this methodological decision has been taken on practical grounds: first, self-report is a relatively easy way to collect data about play. Second, the video games industry has in the past hesitated to work with independent scientists. As time has gone on, it has become increasingly clear that defaulting to self-report is not tenable. Recent evidence suggests self-reports of digital behaviours are notoriously imprecise and biased, which limits the conclusions we can draw from research on time spent on video games and well-bein.
1.1. Video game behaviour
Globally speaking, the most contentious debates surrounding the potential effects of video game engagement are focused on the mental health of players.video game For example, the American Psychiatric Association did not identify any psychiatric conditions related to video games in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), but it does recommend Internet Gaming Disorder as a topic for further research [ The World Health Organization adopted a more definitive approach and included Gaming Disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), emphasizing excessive play time as a necessary component . In sharp contrast, the US Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of a so-called ‘serious video game’ for treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, providing some evidence that there are mental health benefits of some kinds of play time ]. These examples illustrate the central role video game engagement plays as a potential public health issue.On the journey, I faced many great enemies. Some I admired and respected while some I loathed and hated, yet thankful for them all.
I made friends, learned from teachers, faced-off adversaries, fell in love, cried in loss, and shared on the happiness of each and every character of the game. For those who may call me their consort, their lambkin, their tarnished, or even their lord; I express my thanks.
This game was my second entry to FromSoftware, ( the first being Sekiro), and I am at a loss of words to express the emotional rollercoaster I went through during my playthroughs. I now understand why their games are so well-celebrated and have such a vast community.
It doesn’t matter if I am a lowly tanished, I shall never put my foolish ambitions to rest.” people found this review helpful.
