Video Games ‘Can Improve Mood in Just 15 Minutes’
A New Study Reveals the Benefits of Gaming
If you’ve always thought of video games as a mere distraction, a new international study by researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute may well change your mind. According to their research, playing video games can have a positive impact on mood in as little as 15 minutes.
The Study: “PowerWash Simulator” and Its Impact on Mood
The findings, which involved analyzing data from 67,328 gaming sessions from 8,695 players across 39 countries, revealed that players of the “PowerWash Simulator” (PWS) video game reported an improvement in their mood during their gaming sessions.
A 72.1% Increase in Mood Improvement
Researchers found that 72.1% of players experienced this mood improvement, based on statistical modeling of player data.
Real-Life Gaming Sessions: A Departure from Previous Studies
Unlike previous studies, which often used artificial stimuli and laboratory environments, this study focused on more real-life gaming sessions. The results show that players’ average mood increased by 0.034 units (on a scale of 0 to 1) from the beginning to the end of the gaming session.
A Small but Significant Improvement
This improvement is comparable to that observed in other leisure activities such as reading, shopping, or listening to music, the researchers point out.
Acknowledgments and Future Research Directions
Nick Ballou, postdoctoral researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute, commented: “By investigating player experiences during natural play of a popular and commercially available game, we found strong evidence for a small positive change in mood over the course of a play session.”
Acknowledging the limitations of the study, senior author Andrew Przybylski stressed the importance of further research in this area: “We believe our findings are most consistent with the notion that gaming – for most people – is a recovery activity that helps to manage day-to-day stresses and mood fluctuations, without necessarily having substantial long-term impacts.”
He also emphasized the need for future studies to consider the use of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effect of playing “PowerWash Simulator” or other games compared to other leisure activities or therapeutic interventions.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the study suggests that playing video games, specifically “PowerWash Simulator,” can have a positive impact on mood in as little as 15 minutes. While further research is needed to fully understand the effects of gaming on mood, this study provides valuable insight into the benefits of gaming as a leisure activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
* Q: Can playing video games truly improve mood?
A: Yes, according to the study, a significant percentage of players reported an improvement in their mood while playing “PowerWash Simulator.”
* Q: Is the study generalizable to other games?
A: The study was conducted with a specific game, “PowerWash Simulator,” and it is unclear whether the results apply to other games.
* Q: What are the implications of the study?
A: The study suggests that gaming can be a beneficial activity for managing day-to-day stresses and mood fluctuations, but more research is needed to fully understand its effects.