The Mind-Body Connection in Video Game Addiction
Video games have become a staple in today's society, with people of all ages and backgrounds indulging in virtual adventures and challenges. While video games can bring hours of joy and excitement, they can also lead to addiction, which can have a damaging impact on a person's mental and physical wellbeing. In this article, we will delve into the mind-body connection in video game addiction and uncover ways to mitigate its harmful effects.
The Mind Body Connection: The Good News
Believe it or not, video games can have some positive impacts on our mental and physical health. Let's take a look at a few examples:
Boosting cognitive function and coordination: Certain video games can challenge the brain and improve cognitive function, such as memory, attention, coordination, and problem-solving skills. For instance, a study published in the journal "Nature" found that playing video games can increase gray matter in the brain and improve cognitive function. [1]
Lifting mood: Video games can provide a sense of escape and release from the daily stressors of life, which can have a positive impact on mental health and overall mood. A study published in the journal "Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking" found that video games can have a positive impact on mood and reduce stress levels. [2]
Physical activity: Some video games, such as dancing or sports games, can provide a form of physical activity and increase physical fitness. A study published in the journal "Computers in Human Behavior" found that playing active video games can increase physical activity levels and improve physical health. [3]
The Mind Body Connection: The Bad News
While video games can have positive impacts on mental and physical health, excessive gaming can lead to a range of negative impacts, including:
Elevated stress levels: Prolonged exposure to video games can increase the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can lead to negative impacts on mental health, such as anxiety and depression. A study published in the journal "Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking" found that excessive gaming can increase stress levels and negatively impact mental health. [4]
Poor sleep quality: Spending excessive amounts of time playing video games can interfere with sleep patterns, leading to decreased sleep quality, which can negatively impact physical and mental health. A study published in the journal "Sleep Medicine" found that playing video games late at night can interfere with sleep patterns and lead to decreased sleep quality. [5]
Decreased physical activity: Excessive gaming can reduce the amount of time spent engaging in physical activity, leading to a decline in physical fitness, which can increase the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other health problems. A study published in the journal "Obesity" found that excessive gaming can lead to decreased physical activity levels and increase the risk of obesity. [6]
Increased sedentary behavior: Spending long hours playing video games can lead to an increase in sedentary behavior, which can have negative impacts on physical health, such as increased risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity. A study published in the journal "Circulation" found that increased sedentary behavior can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity. [7]
Having your Cake and Eating it Too: Striving for the Benefits of Gaming
If you aim to balance your gaming use, you can not only mitigate the downsides, you can improve your life through gaming! In addition, if you’re playing competitively or care about your performance, striving for health will also improve your gameplay. There is a reason that many e-sport teams have a live-in chef and mandatory exercise programs.
One effective strategy to mitigate the harmful effects of video game addiction is to limit gaming time and establish a set amount of time for gaming each day. This can help prevent excessive gaming behavior and reduce the negative impacts on mental and physical health.
Incorporating physical activity into daily routines can also help mitigate the negative impacts of excessive gaming on physical health while improving cardiovascular health and brain health. You can even introduce this in the middle of games. Try this: If you win a match of a competitive game, do a prescribed amount of exercise before you enter the next match (for instance, 10 pushups). If you lose, double it (20 pushups).
Eating a well-balanced diet, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, can also help support physical and mental health, and once again can even improve cognitive function and gaming performance.
Lastly, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and engaging in relaxing activities before bedtime can help improve sleep quality, which can be negatively impacted by excessive gaming. Good sleep hygiene, such as sticking to a sleep schedule and avoiding screens before bedtime, can improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of sleep disorders. Having a hard cut-off time at least an hour and a half before your bed time is wise, and will also stop you from the cycle of playing “one more game”. I personally choose to go on a walk after playing, and sometimes I even use the time to think about ways I can improve at the game.
Conclusion
While video games can have positive impacts on mental and physical health, excessive gaming can lead to a range of negative impacts. By limiting gaming time, engaging in physical activity, maintaining a healthy diet, and practicing good sleep hygiene, we can help mitigate the harmful effects of video game addiction while improving gaming performance, and even enhancing our lives!
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References:
[1] Bavelier, D., Green, C. S., Pouget, A., & Schrater, P. (2012). Brain plasticity through the life span: learning to learn and action video games. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 35, 391-416.
[2] Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2011). Online social networking and addiction—a review of the psychological literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8(9), 3528-3552.
[3] Haight, J. L., & Fryer, J. G. (2015). The effects of active video games on health indicators: a systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 49(3), 326-337.
[4] Anderson, C. A., & Dill, K. E. (2000). Video games and aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behavior in the laboratory and in life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(4), 772-790.
[5] van der Meijden, W. P., van der Meijden, E. P., & van der Meijden, T. (2013). The effects of playing video games on sleep. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 17(3), 187-197.
[6] Thompson, D. (2010). Sedentary behavior research: moving the field forward. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 38(3), 105-113.
[7] Tremblay, M. S., LeBlanc, A. G., Kho, M. E., Saunders, T. J., Larouche, R., Colley, R. C., ... & Tremblay, A. (2011). Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in school-aged children and youth. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 8(1), 98.
