A survey suggests that playing video games may contribute positively to mental health.

A study published in Nature Human Behaviour draws on survey data from nearly 100,000 individuals across Japan. 

This includes 8,192 participants who were part of a lottery to obtain one of two popular gaming consoles during a period of console shortages from 2020 to 2022.

The research indicates that both owning a video game console and engaging in gameplay are associated with improved mental health and life satisfaction. 

“Our findings highlight the complex impact of screen time on mental well-being,” said lead researcher Hiroyuki Egami, acknowledging that the data was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, which might have influenced the results.

While gaming has often been viewed as detrimental to mental health, this study challenges that notion. 

The World Health Organization has even classified gaming disorder as a health condition, reflecting widespread concerns. 

However, Egami’s research adds to a body of evidence suggesting that the relationship between video gaming and mental health is more nuanced than previously thought.

The study's methodology leverages a natural experiment arising from the random allocation of gaming consoles via lotteries, enabling a more accurate assessment of gaming's effects. 

Researchers collected data on respondents’ gaming habits, mental health, life satisfaction, and sociodemographic factors. 

Machine learning techniques were used to analyse the causal relationships within the data.

The results showed that participants who owned a console and played games reported better mental health compared to those who did not. 

However, the benefits appeared to plateau for individuals who played for more than three hours daily. 

“The psychological benefits of video gaming diminish with excessive playtime,” Egami noted.

Interestingly, merely owning a console was linked to greater life satisfaction and reduced psychological distress, even for those who did not play games frequently. 

This suggests that the sense of ownership and potential for recreational use may contribute positively to mental well-being.

Despite these positive findings, the researchers caution against overinterpreting the results due to the study's limitations. 

The data was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by heightened psychological distress and limited physical activity. 

This context might have amplified the perceived benefits of gaming, as people had fewer alternative recreational activities available.

Egami’s team also pointed out that the effects of gaming varied across different consoles and demographic groups. For example, the psychological benefits were more pronounced among adolescents using one of the consoles, while another console had a smaller impact on females and adults. 

These differences highlight the need for further research to understand how various factors, including the type of gaming platform, influence mental health outcomes.