Report: Video Games Can Relieve Symptoms of Stress and Depression
Report: Video Games Can Relieve Symptoms of Stress and Depression
August 18, 2009
Yesterday, GamePolitics reported on a new study by the Center for Disease Control which indicated that adult video game players are more likely to be depressed and overweight than non-players.
Today, we're reminded that if you don't like the results of a particular study on video games, just wait a while. A new one will be along.
Today's happier news comes by way of the Washington Post. The WaPo reports on publisher-funded research indicating that video games may play a positive role in ameliorating the harmful effects of stress and depression.
Popcap's popular Bejeweled (screenshot at left) comes in for a mention:
In a preliminary study that PopCap commissioned and funded, researchers found that volunteers who played Bejeweled displayed improved mood and heart rhythms... [the] study was published this year in the Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine. Now, the company is about to launch a second phase of testing to see if the video games can have measurable effects on clinical markers of depression...
Many of these steps are based on the idea that depression and other disorders -- as well as everyday stress and worry -- involve systematic patterns of thought and self-doubt, and that games can distract people and put them in a different mental zone. You don't have to play with a computer or an Xbox 360 to notice the effect: Anyone who has used a crossword puzzle or Sudoku game to decompress after a difficult day recognizes the idea.
Other researchers are testing games as a means of normalizing heart rate patterns through the regulation of emotional responses.
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Posted 02/09/10 at 01:16pm
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:10pm
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:00pm
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:53pm
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:48pm
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:42pm
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:40pm
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:39pm
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:34pm
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:32pm
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:26pm
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:25pm
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
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Comments
I honestly can't count how many times Peggle has just made me feel really good about myself.
I can't even begin to count how many times games have helped me as far as stress is concerned, enabling me to take on projects with renewed vigour.
Ugh, I sounded like a bad commercial there but... it's true.
And I'm not overweight or depressed. Honestly, games have often helped me as far as the latter is concerned.
In a related study it was found that people describing themselves as "overly stressed" or "depressed" enjoyed engaging in a wide variety of recreational activities, from watching movies to reading books to spending a day at the beach.
Seriously do you really have to do a study to figure out that video games, along with all manners of other recreational activities and media, can relieve stress and depression? To me that's like doing a study to demonstrate that fun is fun.
Some people need it pointed out to them ^_^
For some, fun is only fun when some authority confirms it.
"De minimus non curat lex"
Video games are the only thing right now that are letting me cope with the death of my best friend a couple days ago. An odd/sick coincidence that this story appeared just now, but it's true. Without something to keep my attention, I'd just be crying/moaning all day.
-If an apple a day keeps the doctor away....what happens when a doctor eats an apple?-
"...a preliminary study that PopCap commissioned and funded..."
Of course, we can overlook that because we all agree with the results, right? I almost wish they'd gotten something negative instead. It would've been fun watching everyone's brains melt as they tried to reconcile bad news about gaming with its corporate source.
---
The Mammon Philosophy
I was actually going to mention that as well. It really doesn't look good when you fund a study about your own games that comes out with positive results.
Most of the commenters here rip apart other studies because they believe their sources are biased. You don't get much more biased than studying your own game.
It's kinda the norm here that studies with findings unfavorable to videogaming are automatically and unquestioningly held by most to be bullshit while the studies with findings favorable to videogaming are automatically and unquestioningly held by most to be Gospel Truth. You two are like a breath of fresh air. Bravo!
I can at least affirm this anecdotally. I have been using videogames to combat depression for about 15 years now. It's more effective than medicine because I don't have any side effects and don't need to be reminded to play games.
So it's ok for antivideogame people to fund a study but not popcap? If you want balance this is how it's got to happen. People who actually work with games have to defend them. no one else is in a position to do so.
That's not the right thing to do IMO. The role of science is not to defend one or another medium or ideology. The only thing that matters is the truth. "Video games are this, do that"... is it true or not, it's all that counts.
And when you talk about "antivideogame people" who fund their own studies : how do you know that they are "anti-videogame" ? Furthermore, being "anti-videogame" is neither a job, nor a political party, while being a game publisher is a job that earns (and costs) money. Some studies may be funded by "anti-game" people, but you have to prove that they are "anti-game", which is difficult because their interest would be, at best, "intellectual". However, when a publisher funds a study, his interest is financial, which immediately creates a conflict of interest and casts a huge doubt on the credibility of the study.
Some studies may be funded by "anti-game" people, but you have to prove that they are "anti-game", which is difficult because their interest would be, at best, "intellectual".
Of course it's usually at worst in that regard. One of the few reasons a group could be labeled as anti-game is because they've not only outed themselves as such but their studies themselves are usually flawed in some major, or even minor way, to scew the results to their favour. Intent is everything, the fact they were behind the study does raise some eyebrows. We all know the unworthy opponents of videogames will object one way or another if they take the time to remove their heads from their own asses to look.
"The role of science is not to defend one or another medium or ideology. The only thing that matters is the truth."
What an incredibly naive statement.
Oh, I know. It's veeeeeeeeery theoretical. But I maintain that financial conflicts of interest are a much easier target than "intellectuel" (i.e. ideological) conflicts of interest. And I think it's possible to promote positive aspects of video games by independent, peer-reviewed studies.
2 Articles on GP today:
"CDC: Adult Game Addicts are Fat and Depressed"
"Report: Video Games Can Relieve Symptoms of Stress and Depression"
So if you get depressed from playing games, you can relieve the depression by... playing games... which... makes you... depressed...
My cat's breath smells like cat food!
"So if you get depressed from playing games, you can relieve the depression by... playing games... which... makes you... depressed..."
That's not what the other study said. The other study said that there was a CORRELATION between videogaming and depression. Thus, it could easily be that depression causes people to play videogames. If videogames can relieve stress, maybe people do it when they're depressed in order to self-medicate.
Games also saved my marriage...... and cured my herpes.
Okay, so none of that is true.
You know, about the marriage. Or the cure. Or the Herpes!
.......
STOP LOOKING AT ME!!!
:P
But you gotta wonder what kind of deranged individual still plays games if they make them stressed or depressed?
Meh, any game with a leadership system is bound to cause that. You can't always have fun if you're trying to organize everyone elses fun. Kinda silly.