In a rapidly evolving digital entertainment landscape, video games remain a popular leisure activity, drawing millions of people into increasingly sophisticated and realistic gaming environments.
Games provide many sources of escape and pleasure, but recent research shows that Nature It shines a light on the dark side of hardcore gamers: the potential for serious physical health issues resulting from long video gaming sessions.
Previous research has primarily focused on how excessive gaming affects behavior and mental health. In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO)game disorder” is listed in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). The WHO describes gaming disorder as a behavioral pattern in which people are unable to control their gaming, prioritize gaming over everything else, and allow gaming to interfere with their daily activities and interests.
However, there is little research on the effects of excessive gaming on physical health. Responding to this need for more information, a group of Australian researchers conducted a study investigating the effects of long gaming sessions on physical health.
This comprehensive study, conducted as part of the International Gaming Survey 2022 (IGS22), reveals a worrying link between prolonged video game play and a range of physical health issues .
Researchers surveyed 955 people between the ages of 18 and 94 who identified themselves as gamers and found that long gaming sessions were associated with physical ailments such as eye strain, neck and back pain, and wrist and hand discomfort. found a significant correlation between increased reporting of
This study employed a cross-sectional survey method and found that playing video games for more than three hours in a single session can double the likelihood of experiencing these negative physical symptoms. I emphasized.
Of the study participants, 80% said they played games every day, and 27.5% said they played for more than 3 hours per session. Researchers who used the Internet Gaming Disorder Test-10 (IGDT-10) to assess the likelihood of gaming disorder found that 17.9% of participants fell into the WHO definition of 'gaming disorder'. I discovered that.
21.7% of respondents said they wanted to become a professional video gamer. Researchers found a moderate correlation between aspiring professional gamers and symptoms of gaming disorder.
The most common physical complaint was back or neck pain, reported by 52.1% of study participants. In second place was eye strain, cited by 46.1% of participants, with hand and wrist pain a close third, experienced by 45.4% of participants.
Interestingly, researchers found that this trend in physical health problems persisted across all demographics, including different age groups and genders. This is also true among casual gamers and aspiring professional gamers.
These findings suggest that the negative effects of gaming on the body are not limited to specific demographics or types of gamers. Rather, these are widespread concerns that affect a wide range of individuals who engage in extended gaming sessions. This challenges the stereotype that gaming-related health problems are limited to young men and professional gamers.
However, it was found that people who meet the criteria for Internet Gaming Disorder are at much higher risk than those without the disorder, and are four times more likely to experience physical health problems.
These findings are particularly timely given the rapid growth of the video game industry and the diversification of its consumer base.according to 2023 Market ReportThe COVID-19 pandemic has had an “unprecedented and staggering” impact on the global video game market, with the industry expected to reach a market size of more than $307.9 billion by 2029.
Aside from the obvious concerns about “gaming disorder,” recent research has called into question many widely held beliefs about the negative effects of video games on mental health.
2022 research featured in Nature discovered it Playing video games improved children's general intelligence. Similarly, research conducted by the University of Exeter, Truro University and Penwith University found that playing video games red dead redemption 2 Improved player knowledge of North American wildlife.
Dispelling another widely held myth, a recent study by neuroscientists in Vienna found that: Playing violent video games did not numb users to real-world violence Or it leads to a lack of empathy.
This current study suggests an urgent need for public health strategies to promote better gaming habits related to physical health, rather than focusing solely on the psychological or behavioral effects of video games. I am.
This includes raising awareness of the potential physical effects of prolonged gaming and encouraging the adoption of measures to reduce these risks, such as taking regular breaks and maintaining good posture. Masu.
Additionally, this study shows that public health interventions should not only focus on reducing the length of gaming sessions, but also educate gamers on the importance of ergonomic practices and self-care to prevent long-term health problems. It suggests that we should also focus on educating. This is especially important since many gamers may not be aware of the risks associated with their hobby.
In conclusion, the study authors emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the physical health risks associated with prolonged video game play.
“As the number of people participating in video games worldwide is increasing, interventions into healthy gaming habits are warranted to prevent negative effects on the body,” the authors write. “Our findings raise awareness of the potential physical effects associated with prolonged gaming and highlight the importance of taking steps to prevent negative symptoms, strain, and injury.”
Tim McMillan is a former law enforcement executive, investigative reporter, and co-founder of The Debrief. His writings typically focus on topics related to defense, national security, the intelligence community, and psychology. You can follow Tim on Twitter. @TimMcMillan. Tim can be reached by email at tim@thedebrief.org or by encrypted email. LtTimMcMillan@protonmail.com
