Researchers have closely studied the relationship between gaming and health for years. Over the years, video games have raised public health concerns among experts, including the World Health Organization, which has long argued for the legitimization of a “gaming disorder.” More importantly, researchers have also focused on gaming and its potential impact on mental health.
A recent study carried out between 2020 and 2022 found that gaming may have potential benefits on your mental health. The study focused on gamers using Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Nintendo’s Nintendo Switch, and results showed that video gaming appears to improve mental health and provide psychological advantages. However, researchers also note that gaming for more than three hours at a time reduces its psychological benefits. Additionally, sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, age, work, and family structure can also impact the effects of gaming. For example, the study found that psychological benefits were less apparent among young PS5 users than adult Nintendo Switch users.
Gaming, gamers, and mental health
The debate on whether or not gaming is detrimental to one’s mental health seems difficult to settle considering the differences among gamer demographics, hardware, and habits. Recently, we posted about professional League of Legends player Faker and his mental health struggles evident during the recent T1 game against fellow South Korean organization Gen.G. A video of Faker’s breakdown spread on social media after T1’s loss, and the viral clip quickly sparked discourse on how much strain and anxiety there can be when you play video games at a top, competitive level.
It’s important to note, however, that most gamers are not salaried professionals like Faker. Nowadays, many games are also catered towards casual players. In recent years, a new subgenre of gaming dubbed “cozy gaming” has also propped up in the market, with video game titles like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley being popular among gamers who aren’t interested in competitive multiplayer elements and just want to relax. Compared to competitive titles like League of Legends and esports favorites like Valorant or Counter-Strike, these games are meant to put as little stress or anxiety as possible on their players.
Gamers’ physical and eye health
Aside from gamers’ mental health, health experts have also been concerned about the potential impact of gaming on their physical and overall well-being. This is apparent in the rise of ergonomic gaming furniture in recent years, from ergonomic chairs to new gaming monitors that are meant to induce as little eye strain as possible on hardcore gamers by implementing incredibly high refresh rates and color-accurate displays.
For eye health in particular, many gamers tend to keep their eyes glued to the screens to increase focus and competitive advantage. While this practice may wield its competitive benefits, poor viewing distances have been shown to be harmful to eye health. If you have to squint or sit extremely close to your gaming monitor, you may need prescription glasses to help boost visual clarity. Eyeglasses like the Oakley Holbrook are a simple solution for those who need vision correction and will reduce the need to squint or strain your eyes to see in-game objects and enemies clearly. To help mitigate the effects of blue light emitted from screens and LED lights today, you can also opt for a BlueReflect™ lens, which helps filter out blue light.
Finally, another way to mitigate the harms of blue light is to turn on your gaming computer or monitor’s blue light filter, which is a commonly built-in feature these days. Windows 10 and 11 have a feature dubbed the Night Light, a built-in blue light filter to help reduce the risk of eye strain for longer grinding sessions. Alternatively, you can also check out blue light screen protectors if you prefer portable gaming on consoles like the Nintendo Switch or your mobile devices, which not only protects your eyes against blue light, but also adds an extra layer of protection for your device’s screens.
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