A comprehensive study reveals that video games improve mental well-being

MADRID (EUROPA PRESS).- The most comprehensive research to date on the relationship between video games and mental well-being, conducted by Japanese experts, challenges negative perceptions and has revealed their psychological benefits for regular users, according to a publication in the journal ‘Nature Human Behavior’.

The study, conducted by researchers from Osaka University, Hamamatsu University Graduate School of Medicine, Takasaki City University of Economics, the National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies and Nihon University (Japan), concludes that there is a causal link between gaming and improved mental health.

However, they found that different consoles had different impacts. The study concluded that while the PlayStation 5 offered relatively minor psychological benefits for children, the Nintendo Switch offered greater psychological benefits.

These findings challenge the stereotype that games are universally harmful to children and emphasize the importance of considering the multifaceted nature of games, including platforms, genres, and play styles, in research and policymaking.

“Our findings challenge common stereotypes that video games are harmful or simply provide a temporary euphoria,” says lead author Hiroyuki Egami, an adjunct professor at Nihon University. “We have shown that video games can improve mental health and life satisfaction across a broad spectrum of people.”

“Many previous studies drew conclusions from correlational analyses with observational data, which cannot distinguish between cause and effect. Our natural experimental design allows us to say with confidence that gaming actually leads to better well-being, rather than simply being associated with it,” he adds.

While the data in this study was collected during the Covid-19 period, the authors point out the importance of conducting future research to verify these results in different contexts. Nevertheless, the study’s robust methodology provides compelling evidence of a causal relationship between video games and improved mental well-being.

This groundbreaking research provides essential evidence for policy makers and international organisations such as WHO and UNICEF to develop more nuanced approaches to digital media consumption. It also paves the way for future research into personalised gaming experiences that could improve wellbeing, the researchers say.

The article can be consulted at the following link: Nature Human Behavior.