Video games are a staple of life for over eight decades. The popularity of console and pc gaming has increased in recent years. The question of whether these videogames are more harmful or beneficial has been debated for many years. Many researchers believe that teens who play videogames could become addicted to them, not exercise enough, and have the potential to worsen their mental health. It is possible to infer that video games have a positive effect on a person’s health, but without any supporting evidence.
The society’s perception of video games can be distorted and it creates false stories about the real dangers associated with excessive game play. Before we get into the dangers of playing video games, let’s talk about how regular gaming can benefit players. The University of Toronto’s psychology researchers led a study and found that action games could have the potential to improve one’s ability to understand the dynamics of different sensorimotor tasks. These skills are necessary for laparoscopic surgery. In this procedure, a tiny camera is placed into the body. It allows the surgeon access to the abdominal cavity remotely and can be used to make precise cuts. A number of studies have also shown that video gaming may provide cognitive benefits. Some researchers advocate regular videogame play. Psychology Today article was written by Peter Gray Ph.D. a Harvard psychologist and researcher in psychology. It explains how “video games can improve basic mental skills”. He then summarizes recent research showing that non-gamers can play an action videogame. These games involve fast movement, decision making, and multitasking.
Researchers concluded that video games have a positive effect on cognitive and basic perceptual abilities, while the controls do not. Research like this suggests that video games have a positive effect on people who play them. This is due to their ability to improve cognitive abilities, such as attention, perception, memory and decision-making. However, these findings should not be confused with the evidence that shows the negative effects of excessive gaming. According to 2017 statistics, video gamers play an average of 3Billion hours per week. In the United States alone, 150 million gamers regularly play video games each week.
The World Health Organization has now classified gaming disorder as an ICD-11 related disorder because of its unrestricted gaming. The WHO is an active member of United Nations Development Group. They define gaming disorder as “gaming disorder”. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Diseases (DSM-5) also includes this gaming-related addictive disorder. This manual is used by mental health professionals to diagnose and treat mental disorders and illnesses. Ranna Parekh is a Harvard Medical Instructor and Physician. She explains that “DSM-5 includes substance related addictive disorders, including alcohol, tobacco and stimulants, as well as opioids and marijuana” (Parekh (2018).
Excessive online gambling has become a major problem. It has even been compared with drug addiction and gambling. Epic Games was accused of creating a class action lawsuit against them for their addictive videogame Fortnite. USA Today reported the story and reached out to the law firm representing the parents who claim the addictive game is as harmful as cocaine. Partly designed by statisticians and psychologists, the game offers rewards that make it easy to want more. These games that reward with such attractive rewards stimulate the brain’s release of the dopamine hormone. The satisfaction of playing video games encourages the brain’s dopamine release to continue. If you play video games often, this hormone can trigger an addiction that leads to a lack or self-control.
This is because these young people have less self-control and are more vulnerable. Video games are played mainly on consoles and pcs by the majority of people. Most video games have a sport or action theme and the player is required to use a keyboard or controller. Only a few games require that the user be physically active. It is possible for teenagers to spend as much time on a screen as they are not engaging in physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle can be harmful to teens and others of all ages. The Sedentary Biology Research Network (SBRN), defines sedentary behaviour as any waking behavior marked by energy expenditures =1.5 metabolic equivalents. This includes sitting, reclining, and lying positions. John Hopkins Medicine’s Erin Michos M.D. published a piece explaining the dangers of sedentary living. She discusses how people risk their health by living in a sedentary lifestyle. Even thrombosis could be caused by prolonged time in the same position or with no movement.
When blood clots get caught in vital veins, it will cause blood loss and blockage to the arteries. The National Center of Biotechnology released a case about a man suffering from leg swelling and pain. He had spent almost half of his day on the couch playing video games. Doctors examined him closely to confirm that he had extensive deep-venous thrombosis. In addition, the study revealed that the prevalence of venous embolism is likely to grow with video games. To determine the risk of prolonged gaming, further studies are necessary. Gamers should also be educated about how to prevent venous embolism. Medical Xpress published Dr. Mark Griffith’s 30-year-old study on the effects of gaming. According to Griffith, video gaming is a form of non-financial gambling that can be viewed psychologically.
This shows that video gaming unlocks the same part of your brain as gambling. He goes on explaining that although the percentage of compulsive players is low, it’s not uncommon for those with these problems to have depression, bipolar disorder and autism. Video games can also be used to treat pre-existing mental disorders. Cheryl Olson discusses what happens when players play too many violent videogames. This is because they are more likely to experience depression if they play for longer periods of time. While video games don’t directly cause depression, it is clear that excessive playing of them can lead to more severe symptoms. These children also have more behavioral and emotional issues when they spend more than half their time playing these games. American Academy of Pediatrics stated that problem gaming can lead to children suffering from depression, anxiety and social phobias. These same symptoms were found in pathological gamers who had stopped playing, but they were higher than those in control groups who didn’t become pathological gamers.
Gaming can be a problem for children and teens if they are not properly monitored. Video games can have many negative or positive effects on teenagers. This is evident from numerous sources. But doctors can confidently decide if videogaming should be discouraged, or even encouraged, with more thorough research. Parents and players should be more aware about how video gaming is impacting their lives. The likelihood of suffering the mental and physical consequences of a prolonged gaming session is higher for those who are able to do so unassisted.
