While previous studies found links between violent games and increased stress and violent behavior, most modern studies show that, when played responsibly, violent games can reduce stress and be used as a positive coping mechanism. If you like video games, the good news is that this hobby can be a great way to regulate stress. Video games have been linked to reduced stress levels, increased emotional awareness, and solution-focused behavior. Keep reading to learn more about why video games can be an effective tool for managing stress and which games may be most beneficial to you.
While these games tend to focus more on the story than on violence, parents are still worried that their children will play them too much.
The secondary objective of the present study was to compare the results of stress in the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat (Blascovich and Tomaka, 199) between a fighting video game (Mortal Kombat) and a puzzle video game (Tetris).
The participants played the video game for 15 minutes and the experimenter recorded the game's performance (Mortal Kombat = number of games won out of ten; Tetris Ultimate = the highest number of points scored in a single round). It's important for both players and parents to clearly understand what stress is, the underlying causes of stress responses, how games can affect these responses, and what steps they can take to ensure that their gaming habits are beneficial to their mental health, reducing stress rather than inducing it. These studies would provide a more detailed understanding of the complex relationship between video game content, physiological and cognitive responses, and different personality types. Unexpectedly, Mortal Kombat players reported more positive and less negative emotions than Tetris players after the game.Mortal Kombat players were successful in the game by winning individual games, while Tetris players were successful in receiving points on a continuous basis for a single level. Some of these games, such as the popular farming simulator Stardew Valley or the Civilization series, include some combat mechanics, although they are less violent. Future research should comprehensively measure indicators of biopsychosocial stress and multiple emotional states over time to thoroughly examine the relationship between video games and stress. Manipulation checks to assess threats were performed using self-assessment scales before and after the game.
For example, most video game players don't go around hitting strangers with loud noises after playing; this occurs primarily in laboratory environments, where subjects are asked to do so. Video games can be an especially attractive way to relieve stress for teens, students, young adults, and others who like to play on computers, tablets, or video game consoles. We predicted that participants who received threat instructions would experience a cardiovascular stress response (higher blood pressure and lower heart rate variability) and would report more negative emotions after the game. As mentioned before, the ESRB establishes a rating system for video games that details the type of content presented.
