Psychological Effects Of Gaming

February 01 2023 TalktoAngel 0 comments 1667 Views

There is conflicting research that suggests gaming offers specific cognitive benefits, such as improved attention control and spatial reasoning, while it is unclear how much of these benefits transfer to the real world. Last but not least, video games can be applied to medicine. For instance, they can assist patients with balance issues, improve the cognitive functioning of adolescents suffering from ADHD, or train surgeons on how to carry out intricate surgeries.

Gaming Injuries

When muscles and tendons are worked repeatedly during an activity to the point where discomfort and inflammation are produced, overuse injuries, also known as repetitive stress injuries, occur. Untreated wounds may result in irreversible harm, including paralysis and numbness.Overuse injuries to the hands and arms are common in gamers.

Carpel tunnel syndrome is a typical case, which many gamers experience. Inflammation of a nerve in the wrist results in carpal tunnel syndrome, which is frequently found in office workers and causes discomfort and numbness.

It is also likely that people who play video games would be obese, and if adults were studied, it is likely that the same would be true. Due to the well-known reality that kids who spend hours a day in front of a computer aren't getting any exercise, this is the case. It's also alleged that eating more when playing video games causes obesity. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, healthy male teenagers who play video games one time have higher food consumption overall, regardless of appetite symptoms.According to the postulated theories, either the signals that indicate satiety (fullness) become disturbed or the mental stress associated with playing video games activates the reward centers, which then lead to increased appetite.

Gaming Addiction

Additionally linked to psychological issues are gaming. The existence of internet gaming disorder (IGD), also referred to as video game addiction, is still up topic for debate. According to the American Psychological Association, IGD is defined as having five or more of the nine criteria listed below over the course of a year:

Playing a lot of games
Withdrawal
Tolerance
Loss of enthusiasm for other pursuits
Minimizing use
Loss of a relationship, an education opportunity, or a job opportunity
Playing video games to get rid of tension, regret, remorse or other negative feelings
Lack of control
Playing games despite psychological and societal issues.

You must understand that when we discuss the connection between video games and mental health, we mostly focus on the negative psychological repercussions of excessive gaming.

Effect of Video Gaming on Mental Health

Video game use may not have significant detrimental consequences on mental health when done in moderation.

According to a study from Oxford University, playing video games in moderation and in a safe setting may be beneficial for one's mental health.

Given that numerous earlier research have connected gaming with detrimental impacts on mental health, some people may find the study's findings unexpected.

One crucial point to be made here is a little study where participants played the prosocial game Animal Crossing for four hours every day. In actuality, most addicted gamers have very diverse gaming behaviours. They engage in more addicting games.

To ascertain the veracity and strength of the associations between gaming and sleep disorders such insomnia, irregular circadian rhythms, depression, aggression, and anxiety, more research is needed. Additionally, there have been worries expressed about how playing violent video games may desensitise teenagers and young adults to such violence, which could lead to emotional problems or even violent behaviour on the side of young people.

According to a research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, between 0.3% and 1.0% of Americans may have an internet gaming disorder. Treatments for this problem are still being developed since the sickness is not well understood or a consensus has been reached. But they can also incorporate public health strategies like harm reduction and education, more exact product labelling, and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Get Professional Mental Health Consultation & Treatment

As soon as you suspect that gaming time is becoming out of control, get professional assistance from your doctor/psychiatrist, online therapist, or pediatrician — if the individual you're worried about is your son or daughter.

Studies on how to treat video game addiction are similarly in their early phases. Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, is one therapy that may be helpful. Through mental health treatment, you will learn how to shift your perspective about gaming in order to alter your behaviour.However, you can also speak with Online Counsellor or Child Psychologists at TalktoAngel Asia’s No.1 Child Counselling platform which provides best Online Counselling for children and parents to deal with child issues in more effective manner. Choose the best kid therapy suitable to you at TalktoAngel.

You could benefit from professional help, discuss your concerns about gaming addiction with an Online Counsellor and a psychologist of your choice. You can connect with the Best Psychologists in India, counsellors, psychologists, and Online Psychiatrists and take Online Counselling at TalktoAngel No. 1 Online Teen Counselling platform with just one click, who can help you handle your mental health difficulties and take care of your mental health on your own.

Contributions by: Dr (Prof) R K Suri, Clinical Psychologist &Child & Adolescent Therapist & Ms. Aditi Bhardwaj