Video games have become a significant part of modern society. Thanks to the tremendous growth of technology which has greatly impacted the video games we play today. People of all ages and genders play them. Over time, they have shown some positive as well as negative effects on psychological health. As the video game industry continues to evolve and become sophisticated, it is important to understand their relationship with the players’ psychological health.
Psychological health and video games are always in the limelight for their misconceptions and how they affect the overall health of the gamer. But the truth is that they have significant benefits for the mind and body, often overlooked by most of the population.
Positive effects of gaming on psychological health
Reduces anxiety and stress
As mentioned above, video games have a significant positive impact on the psychological health of players. For example, it can help reduce the effects of anxiety and depression. In addition, much research has shown that playing video games helps produce increased amounts of dopamine in the brain which induces a feeling of pressure and happiness.
Improves cognitive function
Cognitive function refers to critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities. Gaming is an art that helps people enhance their abilities in cognitive areas. It greatly helps develop brain activity. A study conducted on young video game players saw a significant improvement in their academic performance, a great stepping stone for many studies on this subject.
Socialize and connect with other players
Most video games in today’s times have an interactive window or voice commands. This feature helps gamers interact with people from around the world and connect with them virtually. Even indulging in polite games like Keluaran hongkong allows people to interact with one another, thus increasing their confidence to communicate with people outside of their comfort zone. Such games also positively affect gamers’ mental health.
When gamers do this regularly, in moderation, it not only helps them build social skills but also aids them in improving their language and confidence.
Negative impacts of video games on psychological health
Depression
Depression and video game addiction are seen in almost 89% of gamers. Many studies have also pointed out the benefits of video gaming only when done in moderation. Increased use of gaming and screen time can induce addiction and frustration. This raises the question, ‘do video games cause depression, or is it a coping mechanism for people having depression?’
A study on this topic suggested that many gamers develop depression because of their extensive gaming habits, so much so that they tend to neglect the world around them and build a barrier to social relationships, let alone diet and exercise. However, another study stated that gaming has helped people cope with depression and provided them with a sense of belonging.
Social anxiety and emotional regulation
One of the biggest drawbacks of addictive gamers is their lack of ability to deal with their emotions. People diagnosed with gambling disorders often showed signs of anxiousness, aggressive behavior, and depression. It is because gaming is a great way to escape emotions. It is as easy as escaping daily life activities. Unfortunately, this can also lead to social anxiety and trigger emotions of avoiding society.
However, these emotions can act in your favor when you have good emotional control and a responsible gaming mindset.
Moderation and Addiction – A thin line
There is a thin line between moderation and addiction. When people start playing video games, they usually dive in with the intent of having fun and relaxing. But sooner or later, they give in to the drastic call and, in no time, get addicted to gaming.
One of the major problems with video games is that many are violent with toxic communications. Moreover, such games do no good to players. Hence before starting, it is best to check out the reviews and the nature of the game.
In addition, many online video gamers play games intending to win aggressively. Hence, they never really understand the essence of the positive impacts of playing video games.
Suppose you wish to experience the positive impacts. In that case, it is best to check out the most relaxing games and use them as an opportunity to unwind and have fun rather than following the aggressively competitive nature of the game.
