When and How Video Games Can Be Good: A Review of the Positive Effects of Video Games on Well-Being

“Some study findings indicate that VVGs themselves have little to no relationship to prosocial behavior (Ferguson, 2015; Tear & Nielsen, 2013), whereas others demonstrate that VVGs are associated with lower prosocial behavior (Anderson & Bushman, 2001; Coyne, Warburton, Essig, & Stockdale, 2018).”

“video games, well-being, aggression, health such as depression and anxiety (e.g., Mentzoni et al., 2011; Schou Andreassen et al., 2016).”

“Given that 40% to 65% of participants drop out of a physical-activity program within the first 3 to 6 months (Dishman & Buckworth, 1996), providing a more enjoyable alternative exercise routine with continuously changing aspects could potentially decrease this dropout rate and encourage individuals…”

“(2014) demonstrated the positive effects of video games on four particular types of well-being: cognitive, motivational, emotional, and social; Greitemeyer and Mügge (2014) examined social outcomes only; Jones et al.”

“There is much debate, however, on whether “gaming addiction” should be included as a disorder at all, given the lack of empirical support for it (Aarseth et al., 2017).”

“, 2018), whereas others have not come to such a definitive conclusion (Ferguson, 2015; Furuya-Kanamori & Doi, 2016; Sherry, 2007).”

“Those who engage in moderate game play have been shown to have lower psychological symptoms than individuals who play video games excessively or not at all (Durkin & Barber, 2002; Jones et al., 2014).”

“Here, we use the term video game to refer to an electronic or digital game that can be played across a wide variety of platforms, including personal computers; handheld devices such as mobile phones, tablets, or the Nintendo 3DS; as well as game consoles such as an Xbox, that are used with a television ( Jones et al.,…”

“negatively impact aggression (Anderson et al., 2010; Greitemeyer & Mugge, 2014; Prescott et al., 2018) whereas others have not come to such a definitive conclusion (Ferguson, 2015; Furuya-Kanamori & Doi, 2016; Sherry, 2007).”

“(2014) looked at flourishing mental health; and Pallavicini, Ferrari, and Mantovani (2018) analyzed the effects of games used as training tools—all reviews on specific types of video games or well-being.”

“…& Li, 2017), though this is even more true for cooperative games, given that they encourage a higher level of positive interaction that leads to higher levels of enjoyment and lower levels of aggression than competitive games (Ewoldsen et al., 2012; Schmierbach, Xu, OeldorfHirsch, & Dardis, 2012).”

“but not violence (Calvert et al., 2017), although this report has itself come under critical scrutiny by outside scholars (Elson et al.”

“, 2015) and indeed, more enjoyable with additional motivations unique to exergames (Monedero et al., 2015; Morford et al., 2014; Strand et al., 2014).”

“This is only the case, however, if cooperative games are played in moderation and the motivation is socially driven, rather than playing for obsession, escapism, or a desire for achievement (Carras et al., 2017; Hagström & Kaldo, 2014; Lafrenière et al., 2009).”

“Our next area of interest concerned how individual differences and sociocontextual factors are more influential on levels of aggression than the degree of violence present in a video game (Ferguson et al., 2012).”

“Our overarching argument, supported by the review provided here, is that social activity generated by video games is healthy unless it is overshadowed by a more competitive, achievement-focused orientation or played in excess (Carras et al., 2017; Longman et al., 2009).”

“As demonstrated by these studies, exergames can provide an alternative to traditional exercise methods, particularly because of the unique motivations of new content and increasing difficulty they provide (Bieryla & Dold, 2013; Lee, Biggan, Taylor, & Ray, 2014).”

“The prosocial aspects in MMORPGs have also been found to encourage cooperation, communication, and friendship, all aspects of prosocial behavior (Martoncik & Loksa, 2016).”

“This is only the case, however, if cooperative games are played in moderation and the motivation is socially driven, rather than playing for obsession, escapism, or a desire for achievement (Carras et al., 2017; Hagström & Kaldo, 2014; Lafrenière et al., 2009).”

“For example, researchers in a study involving school children concluded that prosocial video games were significantly related to the ability to cooperate, share, and maintain positive relationships with each other outside of the game (Harrington & O’Connell, 2016).”

“First, in our consideration of the social aspects of video games, we argued and demonstrated that this social activity in all types of video games positively influences prosocial behavior and aspects of social well-being (Gitter et al., 2013; Kowert & Oldmeadow, 2015; Martoncik & Loksa, 2016).”

“…there has been much interest in the gaming habits of adolescent boys (e.g., Bijvank, Konijn, & Bushman, 2012; Konijn, Nije Bijvank, & Bushman, 2007; Mazurek & Engelhardt, 2013) and the notion that this population is the most affected by gaming is prevalent, the average age of a gamer is actually…”

“Some study findings indicate that VVGs themselves have little to no relationship to prosocial behavior (Ferguson, 2015; Tear & Nielsen, 2013), whereas others demonstrate that VVGs are associated with lower prosocial behavior (Anderson & Bushman, 2001; Coyne, Warburton, Essig, & Stockdale, 2018).”

“Some meta-analyses concluded that VVGs may negatively affect aggression (Anderson et al., 2010; Greitemeyer & Mügge, 2014; Prescott et al., 2018), whereas others have not come to such a definitive conclusion (Ferguson, 2015; Furuya-Kanamori & Doi, 2016; Sherry, 2007).”

“, 2015) and indeed, more enjoyable with additional motivations unique to exergames (Monedero et al., 2015; Morford et al., 2014; Strand et al., 2014).”

“Thus, it seems that family and social variables and the motivation behind the violence are more significantly related to an increase in aggression than the violence itself (Ferguson et al., 2015; Gao, Weng, Zhou, & Yu, 2017; Sauer, Drummond, & Nova, 2015).”

“, 2017), although this report has itself come under critical scrutiny by outside scholars (Elson et al., 2019).”

“However, aside from the studies examining cooperative behavior (Ewoldsen et al., 2012; Harrington & O’Connell, 2016; Schmierbach et al., 2012), the majority of studies have utilized survey methods; therefore, further experimental research is required to demonstrate causal effects that support these correlational findi…”

“In addition, given this broad definition and the focus in previous literature on violence and aggression, high well-being should also be associated with low levels of aggression (Hamama & Arazi, 2012).”

“For example, when playing alone, prosocial behavior is relatively similar across participants who play ultraviolent, violent, and nonviolent video games (Tear & Nielsen, 2014).”

“First, in our consideration of the social aspects of video games, we argued and demonstrated that this social activity in all types of video games positively influences prosocial behavior and aspects of social well-being (Gitter et al., 2013; Kowert & Oldmeadow, 2015; Martoncik & Loksa, 2016).”

“, 2015) and, indeed, are more enjoyable, with additional motivations unique to exergames (Monedero et al., 2015; Morford et al., 2014; Strand et al., 2014).”

“Other research, on the other hand, has revealed that involvement in MMORPGs does not lead to any effects on perceived social support (Domahidi, Breuer, Kowert, Festl, & Quandt, 2018; Dupuis & Ramsey, 2011).”

“Indeed, even the gamer’s level of skill plays an important role in how these games affect aggression, such that the higher the levels of gaming skill, the lower the levels of aggression that are evident (Matthews, 2015).”

“…social components have been shown to have positive benefits on psychological aspects of well-being (e.g., Herodotou, Kambouri, & Winters, 2014; Jin & Li, 2017), though this is even more true for cooperative games, given that they encourage a higher level of positive interaction that leads to…”

“This is potentially positive because this video-game social interaction might promote enjoyable social contact for those in remote locations, with psychological difficulties, or with other factors that can inhibit in-person interaction (Odrowska & Massar, 2014).”

“The video-game industry has grown exponentially since the initial development of Tennis for Two in 1958 (Nyitray, 2011).”

“Most individuals perceive video games as a source of enjoyment and encounter numerous bene fi ts from playing, including positive social relationships and increased well-being (Halbrook, O ’ Donnell, & Mset fi , 2019; Johannes, Vuorre, & Przybylski, 2021; Ryan, Rigby, & Przybylski, 2006).”

“Video games are increasingly being used in sectors such as education [15-17] and mental health [18-21].”