Video games can have many effects on the well-being of people. Some people claim them to be just a simple distraction, while others believe it is a good way to de-stress and take your mind off of work and responsibilities. An article by PubMed central show that video games can actually increase people’s stress levels when they become addicted to them. However, another study conducted by Oxford Academics show the opposite effect and that video games can actually be beneficial to a person’s well-being. These opposing articles show us that this is a more nuanced topic than we might immediately think. Overall, I believe that video games can be beneficial to mental health, but that it depends on the type of game and the amount played. I interviewed two year 12 students to see what they believe the effects of video-games are on their lives. These two students are, Stefanos Catsiapis and Mathieu Servan-Schreiber and here is what they think the effects of video games are on them:
Stefanos:
How often do you play video games, and what types of games do you usually play?
I play video games for about two hours every day, sometimes a bit more, but it mostly depends on my weekly schedule. I mostly play single player RPGs, but I also like to play some multiplayer FPS games.
Do you personally think that you spend too much time playing video games?
Yes, I definitely believe that I spend too much of my time playing video games while I could be doing something more productive
Do you think video games have positively impacted you in any way?
Not really, I think that video games mostly impact me in a negative way, as I sometimes prioritize it over more important things like physical activity and studies.
Mathieu:
How often do you play video games, and what types of games do you usually play?
I play video games weekly, mostly on the weekends, and I usually play “Warframe” or “Factorio” for the time being.
Do you personally think that you spend too much time playing video games?
Yes, I believe I spend too much time playing video games and that it can interfere with my studying.
Do you think video games have positively impacted you in any way?
Yeah, I do think that, despite spending too much of my time on them, that they have had some positive impacts. I think that they have improved my problem-solving skills, and I have also made a few friends through video-games.
Links to studies
PubMed central’s study on the Effects of addiction to Computer games on the physical and mental health of people:
Oxford Academics article on the positive mental health benefits of video games:
