New Study Reveals That Gaming Reduces Stress and Promotes Mental Health

If you grew up playing video games, you probably grew up hearing about how they were bad for you in some way. That they would somehow stunt your psychological development or make you violent. On the most extreme end of this, video games have often been a scapegoat for school shootings and other acts of extreme violence.

However, new research from the University of Saskatchewan reveals that gaming is actually good for you on a number of levels. In fact, Dr. Regan Mandryk, a computer science professor (pictured above) who led the study, believes gaming can reduce stress and promote mental health.

To understand why, we must understand some of the common myths regarding video games and how these findings bust those myths wide open.

The spectre of online negativity

Much of modern gaming now focuses on online play in some form or another. And because of this, video games often fall under the spectre of toxic online negativity.

Numerous researchers have tried to understand why so many people seem to lose their sense of empathy when they interact online. Think of places like internet comment sections that quickly descend into toxic behavior!

While it’s true that the early days of online consoles had virtual rooms full of strangers screaming at each other, things are much calmer now. Gamers largely stick to communicating with those in their friends list, especially when gaming during social isolation.

Because online interactions largely center on your friends list, it’s easier for gaming to be a safer space than other places online.

RELATED: How Covid-19 Made Video Games Bigger Than Ever

Video games and isolation

Video games have a long and undeserved reputation for isolating players. It all goes back to the stereotype of the lonely gamer playing in a dark basement instead of going outside and interacting with others.

However, COVID-19 forced people all around the world to enter into social isolation. Suddenly, going outside and interacting with people was no longer a safe option. Because of this, an increasing number of consumers turned to video games as escapist fun.

And that’s when online players discovered for themselves what Mandryk’s research confirmed: gaming is actually a safe and healthy way to interact with others. Whether you’re dealing with a global pandemic or not, gaming is an awesome way to reduce stress and boost mental health.

Why is that? We’ve got a breakdown of Mandryk’s conclusions ahead.