Running head: RESEARCH INVESTIGATION MOD 5-2 1
Video Games: Impact on Mental Health Pros and Cons
Sorianny Abid
Southern New Hampshire University
RESEARCH INVESTIGATION MOD 5-2 2
Introduction
Throughout the years video games has gained stigma especially violent video games. It's
continuously been used as a scapegoat whenever a violent crime is committed of shooting nature
or any violent crime that seems video game "worthy". Do violent video games cause real life
violence? Does it have an impact in mental health?
This issue is significant since at times the real issues on why certain acts of violence are
carried out continues to be blamed on things such as video games. It makes it difficult to prove
otherwise since if the act is committed by a gamer. It automatically ties in as a factor. However,
it's been used a source of communicating with other players and friends as a form of "hanging
out" or to simply connect with others making it beneficial in society.
Violence in real life has yet to be linked to violent video games. It is found to be a source
of comfort to many. Video games began to gain more traction as the social media and gaming
communities were formed. Applications such as discord are utilized a source of gathering groups
for play and chatting about the game, making connections and providing chat lobbies for players
to talk and game together. Especially during COVID this became more significant as time went
on and people began streaming on twitch to connect with audiences, video game sales boomed
and one in particular Animal Crossing became increasingly popular during the pandemic.
A study done during the pandemic shows that social isolation many adolescents
and young children were diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Although this was unfortunate
the ones that continued to play video games specifically active video games; showed that it did
not have a negative impact on their mental health. "No study reported negative results from
active/interactive exergames on mental health in children and adolescents. On the contrary,
when investigating the use of AVGs in competition mode, no difference was found in the
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attraction of the game and intrinsic motivation, however, in the cooperation mode, a positive
effect on mental health was found. " (Active Video Games for Improving Mental Health and
Physical Fitness 2020)
It's no surprise that even through video games we can achieve even an active lifestyle due
to the broad availability of the different categories. It's truly believed there's at least one video
game for anyone out there. While also there's a social setting for it as well. Online gaming offers
a way to socialize with people further away or offers a chance to bond with others through
similar interest. Social support is important in all stages of life and with current technology and
social media it has become more accessible to find those with similar interest and people to play
video games with including groups for gaming. A research