Excessive video gaming has been considered a great problem with many disadvantages but there might be a unique remedy to reduce the risks of depression caused by spending too much time on gaming. It was recently found that being socially active and engaging with others can lessen the risks of addiction and depression among teens who are involved in video gaming.
A Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-led research revealed teenagers who indulge in more than four hours of video games per day have a higher likelihood of suffering from depression. However, regular use of social media and instant messaging can reduce the risks of gaming addiction among teenagers.
The results of this research will be published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior in March this year. These results explain that contrary to popular belief, heavy video gaming, especially in boys, is not always detrimental. Parents do not need to immediately worry that their child is spending a lot of time with games because the harmful effects of gaming can be balanced out by socially engaging with people, either online or in reality.
It is particularly noteworthy that according to the researchers at Johns Hopkins, boys who have very strong friendships are quite immune to these problems. If they have deep ties with people they hardly suffer from depression or addiction pertinent to heavy gaming, Science Daily revealed.
Furthermore, these researchers believe the findings could help the organizations like American Psychiatric Association and World Health Organization. These associations have suggested to make Internet Gaming Disorder a legitimate medical condition now.
Playing games all day while interacting with one's friends and occasionally chatting or conversing with them is absolutely normal. This behavior does not present any kind of hindrance in the developmental pattern of a teenager, Michelle Colder Carras, PhD., a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Mental Health at John Hopkins' Bloomberg School, stated. These results go on to suggest that heavy use of video games can lead to an active social life. However, this must be accompanied by social engagement or having strong friendship bonds.
