Industry report: Gaming as a "healthy balance" in difficult times

Gaming for resilience: video games help many gamers to cope better with challenging times. This is the result of a report published by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) in collaboration with international partner associations to mark World Mental Health Day.

The German industry association game was also involved in the study. According to the game, 1012 of the 24,000 gamers surveyed came from Germany. 67 percent of them see gaming as a healthy balance to the challenges of everyday life, writes the industry association. More than half play to relieve stress. As many as 68 percent of the German gamers surveyed believe that gaming can fundamentally reduce stress. Internationally, the figure is as high as 80 percent. 51 percent of German gamers also recognize gaming as a way to combat loneliness. All respondents were at least 16 years old.

“Staying in contact with others and creating experiences together, exploring new worlds, or embarking on exciting adventures: games entertain like no other medium. This makes them an important source of relaxation and mental strength for many people,” comments game Managing Director Felix Falk on the figures. “They also give people a sense of belonging, can strengthen social connections, and help combat loneliness.”

Internationally, 81 percent of gamers surveyed said that gaming is mentally stimulating. 73 percent believe that they feel happier thanks to video games. Many gamers also saw positive effects on creativity, problem-solving skills, and teamwork.

The ESA study highlights the positive effects of video gaming. However, the potential negative effects of excessive gaming are also well documented. In 2018, the WHO officially declared gaming addiction a disease. “A gaming addict is someone who neglects friends and family, who no longer has a normal sleep rhythm, who eats poorly or skips sports activities because of constant gaming,” said Vladimir Poznyak from the WHO Addiction Committee. This vicious circle particularly affects young people.