The peer-reviewed journal: ‘Games for Health’ focuses closely on investigating the ties between gaming and mental health. A recent publication looked at the findings of several reports focusing on the effects of video games on stress, anxiety, and overall mental health. Out of the 13 studies reviewed, 12 showed positive outcomes for video gamers. All studies that examined mood and stress noted significant improvements when compared with a passive break, surfing the web, or relaxation activity.

Most gamers report that video games are a great way to reduce stress. The reason often given is that video games provide an opportunity for them to escape to a different world and focus on something else for a while.  According to a University of Saskatchewan computer science professor, Regan Mandryk, video games aren’t just a mindless way to waste time. A video game “helps you relax, it helps you feel like you're mastering challenges and it helps you feel like you have control over your environment”, she notes.

A 2019 National Institute of Health study found that video games have the potential to reduce symptoms associated with depression. Another study that examined players revealed a difference in stress levels after playing either competitive or co-operative games. Gamers who played co-operatively were reported to have experienced a greater decrease in stress levels than those who played competitive games, though the difference was slight.

Moreover, researchers have been able to connect work-related fatigue and daily hassles and the use of video games for recovery purposes. The result showed that people who more strongly associated gameplay with stress recovery used video games more often after going through stressful situations.

Most people play games for pleasure. Anytime one enjoys playing video games, a neurotransmitter called dopamine is released into the nucleus accumbens, the brain’s pleasure center. This process produces a good and euphoric feeling to the gamer and thus helps to de-stress.

Also, success from playing video games brings a feeling of satisfaction and competence. These are positive emotions that help counteract stress. The Triumph circuit is a psychological pattern in our brain that rewards engagement. Most video games present us with a challenge as well as the tools to overcome it. The brain, naturally, is wired to make us feel good when we overcome challenges.

To this end, it can be said that video games play a vital role in peoples’ lives. They provide people with entertainment as well as relaxation.

REFERENCE:

Information from www.verywellmind.com, www.healthygamers.com, www.frontiersinpsychology.org, www.cba.ca, and www.wired.com was used in this story