Playing video games may have a positive impact on players' well-being

What is it about?

Anecdotal reports suggest that many people turned to playing video games to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. To better understand how games were being used during the lockdown, we surveyed a broad range of players, who reported that playing games has positively impacted their well-being. We identify seven ways that games have affected players, such as providing cognitive stimulation and opportunities to socialise, and a variety of benefits related to mental health, including reduced anxiety and stress. Our findings highlight the sociocultural significance of video games and the potentially positive nature of games’ effects on well-being.

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Photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash

Photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash