- Owning a game console improves life satisfaction and reduces stress
A study shows that video games can have a positive effect on the mental health of people of all ages, unless you play more than three hours a day.
Gaming is often thought to be bad, especially for children. It is thought to cause problems with development and socialization, promote violence and lead to addiction.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has even labeled gaming addiction as a health problem, characterized by reduced control over gaming.
But now a study of more than 97,000 people shows that owning a game console and playing games can actually have a positive effect on mental well-being.
Due to a shortage of game consoles in Japan between 2020 and 2022, retailers used lotteries to allocate a PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch to residents between the ages of 10 and 69.
Video games can have a positive effect on the mental health of people of all ages – unless you play more than three hours a day – a study suggests (stock image)
An analysis by researchers at Nihon University in Tokyo found that both owning a game console and playing games improved mental health.
However, participants who played video games for more than three hours per day did not experience the same health benefits.
Research has shown that owning a console increases life satisfaction and reduces psychological stress.
The researchers caution that data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the findings.
However, they say their research highlights the complex impact of screen time on mental well-being.
Writing in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, they said: ‘Using a naturalistic experimental approach, we showed that winning a Switch or PS5 in the lottery had a positive effect on the mental well-being of individuals aged 10 to 69 in Japan.
An analysis conducted by researchers at Nihon University in Tokyo found that both owning one of the consoles and playing games improved mental health (
‘All of our estimates indicated a positive correlation between video games and life satisfaction. This finding is contradictory given some public perceptions around gaming, but it is consistent with recent studies.’
Pete Etchells, Professor of Psychology and Science Communication at Bath Spa University, commented on the research: ‘The results show that overall there is a positive association between games console ownership and mental wellbeing.
‘But beyond that, we also see some interesting nuances: owning a Nintendo Switch was associated with more positive outcomes among younger groups, and to a slightly greater extent in favor of female participants, while owning a PS5 was associated with more pronounced outcomes among men and adult groups without children.’
Dr Mike Cook, senior lecturer in computer science at King’s College London, added: ‘Research that helps people understand the benefits of play is good for everyone, especially when it comes to video games, which have an image problem worldwide.
‘Video games are not only important for children, but for adults of all ages. They are also becoming increasingly important for older generations as a source of social connection and mental challenge.’