Opinium’s Mental Health and Gaming report, which looks to explore the impact of gaming on gamers’ mental wellbeing, has found that it has an overwhelming positive effect – with three in five (60%) stating gaming helps their mental health.
In order to gauge how people who game felt, Opinium asked them to rate their mental health from 0 (very poor) to 10 (very good). Perhaps surprisingly, the report found that gamers with the best mental health game for longer in a typical week than those with the poorest mental health. They are also more likely to spend more on games and additional content in a typical month.
Gamers who rated their mental health between 0-3 were likely to play an average of 8.2 hours of video games in a typical week and were likely to spend £19.20 on video games in a typical month. Time spent gaming increases to 9.4 hours among the group of individuals who rated their mental health either a 9 or a 10, over an hour longer than those with worst mental health, and their average monthly spend also increased to £24.20.
Great Escape
When looking at why people game, nearly half of gamers (48%) agreed that gaming helps reduce stress, whilst a further 47% said it is a way to escape the “real world” and distract themselves.
Gaming as a form of escapism is prominent among gamers with poorer levels of mental health, with 3 in 5 gamers (61%) in the lowest bracket for mental health revealing they play games to escape. This falls to 51% in the 4-6 bracket, 47% in the 7-8 bracket, and drops further to just 38% in the 9-10 bracket.
Over half (54%) of gamers said they play video games to keep their mind active and nearly half (45%) said it is because it helps them get away from everyday worries. When it comes to contributing mental health factors, half (46%) said that they feel accepted in the gaming world.
Parenting and Gaming
The report found that of the gamers Opinium spoke to, more than three in five (62%) were parents. Two in five (42%) gamer parents revealed that they often play video games with their children and see it as a bonding activity. However, parents in the highest bracket for mental health were the least likely to play video games with their children, and the least likely to agree that it helps them bond.
Shooter/FPS Most Popular Genre
Intriguingly given the poor reputation the genre has when linked to mental wellbeing, ‘First Person Shooter’ was the most commonly played videogame genre among over two in five (42%) players in the highest mental health bracket, followed by action games at 39%.
Just over half (56%) of players in the lowest bracket for mental health were more inclined to play puzzle games, with (43%) likely to play simulation games.
Cameron Hatter, Researcher in the Gaming Team at Opinium Research commented:
“It is hugely positive to see the mental health benefits linked with gaming, and these findings will perhaps help set minds at rest for parents who are considering purchasing the latest video games for their families this Christmas. Similarly, the findings that the longer gamers play, the better their mental health, can go some way to help ease any concerns about people spending more time with their screens and longer game play during lockdown.
“With the emotional impact of Covid-19 and all the life restrictions that came with it, focus on mental health has never been as prevalent or important as it is today. As a result, many people are re-evaluating their own mental wellbeing and exploring how it may be improved. Simultaneously, the overall ‘gaming population’ increased by 63% in lockdown*, coinciding with the launch of next generation of gaming platforms, and the rocketing popularity of esports and online streaming. With that in mind, it’s encouraging that this seems to be having a positive impact on gamers.”
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