Why Playing Video Games Is Healthier Than You Think

The moral panic surrounding the effects of video games are as old as video games themselves. Video games making children anti-social, violent, and physically unhealthy typically top the list of parental concerns (it is worth noting that the answer to all three of these questions is decidedly no). However, along with these questions come ones about what role parents should be playing in curating and gatekeeping their child’s video game consumption. This article will breakdown the science behind video game effects and provide some practical tips for parents who are looking to become more involved in (or gain a greater understanding of) the world of video games.

The Truth About Video Game Effects

Video game effects are often sensationalized in the media. Addiction, aggression, and anti-social behaviors dominate the headlines when it comes to discussing how video games potentially impact players. However, researchers have been studying video games and their effects for decades and a clear consensus has emerged: the impact of video games on thoughts and behaviors is minimal. In fact, when you add other demographic factors into the mix, such as age, gender, and peer delinquency, the effects of media are negligible.

What does this mean? This means that there is no scientific evidence to suggest video game play directly contributes to negative outcomes. Yes, you read that right - even when it comes to the assumed link between video games and violent crime. (For more on the science behind video game effects, I recommend this guide for parents).

In fact, recent work in the field is pointing more to the potential positive impact games can have on our physical, social, and psychological well-being.

For example, games are great at reducing stress. There is quite a bit of research that looks at how media and entertainment, in general, contributes to mood management and repair. Entertainment media is an efficient coping strategy to bring negative emotions and mood back into balance. For example, bored individuals choose exciting TV programs to watch, whereas stressed individuals prefer to watch relaxing TV programs.

Games are particularly effective tools for mood management because good games are developed to be engaging in a way that meets our basic psychological needs as humans. They give you a sense of autonomy (you are free to make your own choices), competence (that you can achieve things and be successful), and relatedness (connecting with the other villagers and your friends via online play). These three components, autonomy, competence, and control, are universal and thought to be essential for the psychological health and well-being of an individual. Having these needs met, while also having the added element of playfulness, is a pleasant feeling that makes us feel happy and satisfied.

How to Use Games to Connect With Your Kids

After questions about video game effects, the number one query I receive from parents is how to become more involved in gaming and how to integrate it into a family, rather than individual, activity. While every child and situation is different, generally my advice to parents is the same: be intentional, be present, and have fun.

Step one is being intentional. By that I mean be aware of the content in the video games that are being brought in to your home for your children. This is not just about age ratings, but the kind of content as well. In the U.S., the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is responsible for providing age ratings, as well as content descriptors for further information as to why a particular game received a particular age rating (e.g., violent content, suggestive themes, etc.). So, if you do not want your children playing games with explicit language or sexual content, for example, then you need to note the content descriptors alongside the age ratings. Intentionality cuts through the ambiguity of the content that your children are consuming and it is the first step to becoming more engaged.

Secondly, be present. I hear a lot of parents say “I don’t know what my children are playing. I hear the sound of guns, I think it is probably violent, is that appropriate for them?” While being intentional will help keep us aware of the content within the game itself, parents can also be present by talking to their children about the games that they play. It can be as simple as asking them what kind of games they like and why they like them.

Being present also includes being engaged with them and their love of video games. I understand not all parents want to play video games with their children. And perhaps, if you are the parent of a teenager, they may not want you to play with them either. However, you can sit in the same room with them while they play. This will not only give you a first-hand look as to what kinds of games they are playing, but it will also give you some time to share in the activity with them. Even if your child is “distracted” by playing, they will notice that you are making an effort to be involved in what interests them. You may even be surprised as to what kinds of conversations this might start around the dinner table!

As a child, I very clearly remember my mom sitting and watching my brother and I play the Nintendo game, Super Mario Bros. Sometimes she would play (and always die on what she still calls “the first mushroom"), but most times she would just sit in the room with a book or a magazine and be present while we played. I can still remember how great it felt to have her take an interest in something she didn’t necessarily understand but knew that my brother and I loved.

Being intentional and present also gives parents the opportunity to remain vigilant when it comes to “stranger danger” on the internet. While video game effects are not a significant cause for concern, interacting with strangers remains a danger parents should be aware of. While every system and game has slightly different chat functions, Google and YouTube are full of resources to limit your child’s ability to talk to strangers via in-game chatrooms (whether it be limiting their chat to friends that they already know or turning off online chat altogether).

Last but not least, have fun! Video games are meant to be fun after all! As mentioned above, if you do not like to play video games that is okay; they can also be used as a jumping-off point for other activities that the whole family might enjoy. For example, if your child likes sports games, maybe they would also like a night out at a sporting event. Or, if your child likes fantasy-type games, maybe they would like to try a family night of Dungeons and Dragons or attend a game-themed event (should they ever return post-COVID).

How to Keep Games at a Healthy Level

No discussion about video games would be complete without a discussion about boundaries. Whilst video games are a great way to reduce stress and socially connect with others, just like with any activity, there is a possibility to overdo it. I often tell parents to just consider it like any other leisure activity your kids may engage in. It can be something they enjoy often, daily even, but it should only be one of many things that they do.

In this time of COVID quarantine, you may find that your children are playing more video games than usual, and that is okay (I promise)! In this time of social distancing, games are becoming interactive, social outlets for us to play and engage with others.

However, if you are concerned that your child is playing games in a way that is destructive or maladaptive, I recommend keeping this in mind: excessive gaming is far more often a symptom of an underlying issue, rather than the issue itself. That is, individuals are more likely to be using games excessively as a way to cope (with loneliness, environmental stress, depression, etc.) than the games themselves being the original source of the problem. That said, in line with the recommendations of the American Psychological Association, please consult a mental health professional if you believe games have begun causing problems in all areas of your children's lives (physical, social, psychological, occupational) over an extended period of time.

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