Skip to Content

How Video Games Work As Stress Relievers

video games

The world of gaming is hardly affected at all by the negative opinions when taking into account that lovers of video games are unlikely to give up their beloved past time accordingly, the release of several new popular games are only fueling the love so many have for gaming. Gamers are buying more video games than ever. Once completed, the game is oftentimes recycled back into rotation since it is pretty easy to sell video games these days. Out with the old and in with the new. This perpetual cycle is a way of life for true gaming enthusiasts. There are several incredibly popular games, such as Fornite that have brought incredibly addictive action play to the table for gamers. With dedicated individuals all over the world adding to the popularity and offering one another ultimate support, the game itself seems to offer players a unique world of their own. Gamers can adjust play experience through the best Fornite settings and unravel an experience that is truly out of this world. While many may hold on to the belief that gaming will increase stress, new research suggests quite the opposite.  

The Research

The new world of gaming allows players to interact with one another through an online connection, which suggests that the opinion that games encourage social isolation is no more than merely an opinion. In addition to this, numerous gamers insist that the past time of playing even violent games acts as an effective stress relief.

There are studies that confirm gaming can be used as a tool to decrease stress and in addition to this, there is also evidence to suggest that gamers may be exposed to additional benefits of an enhanced ability to recover from stressful experiences. What’s more, the effects of gaming on work-related fatigue and social interaction and work relationships are also quite positive. This means that games may actually be able to improve the players quality of life with various positive aspects. There is adequate research to confirm the positive effects of gaming on players ability to cope with stress and recover from stressful situations to conclude that the past time is a significant effect method of reducing everyday stress levels and improving general coping skills.

How Research Confirms The Potential Stress Relief

Even though there is research to suggest that video games result in violence and aggression, the findings are conclusive to no more than merely a suggestion., especially when taking into account that studies have found no clear link in between games and violence. What’s more, the belief that games may influence an increase in stress has also not been confirmed through significant studies. Regardless of the slight possibility that there could be a minor possibility of an increase in stress, the vast majority of findings cannot locate a clear link in the matter. However, there are relevant studies that have actually confirmed cooperative gameplay has proven to effectively decrease the levels of stress in the player after playing the game. Even though the decrease was only slight, the findings remain significant. In various studies, the results have shown that players maintain a positive attitude towards other players, with a somewhat higher positivity towards cooperative players. This suggests that gameplay may, in fact, improve social capabilities.

Furthermore, evidence suggests that players are able to adapt to stressful situations in real life through stress experienced within gameplay. By learning aspects of coping with stress, such as recovering from stress, through stressful situations in video games, players are able to better manage stress and coping skills in real life. Gaming has also shown the ability to assist with work-related fatigue and coping skills that are considered emotionally focused as several games provide social support.

How To Reduce Stress Through Gaming

It is somewhat understandable how gaming could reduce stress and the effects of work-related fatigue. When considering that several games offer players the opportunity to experience the excitement and thrills of the virtual realm of gameplay, gaming can provide adequate coping skills that can be utilized outside of gameplay too. The mere fact that games such as Fortnite and Starcraft, to mention only a couple, offer players suitable social support through interaction that may be considered a relatively safer environment for individuals, gamers are gifted with a notable opportunity to be themselves within the game. The support gained from other players has shown to effectively relieve work-related stress and suggests that the interaction is crucial for gamers in real life situations.

Despite the vast negativity surrounding the opinions of gaming, the lack of solid evidence to support the possibilities of a harmful impact suggests that moderate exposure to video games may in fact offer players significant benefits. These benefits may strictly involve the reduction of stress and the important impact of social support that players may not otherwise be able to receive. When playing video games to reduce stress, cooperative gaming is advised. Players are able to learn various beneficial skills through gaming, although, moderate exposure is best to take advantage of the positives that gaming can offer.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.