If you’re suffering from stress, it can be helpful to try out a new activity to alleviate your stress. However, you have to choose an activity that suits your personality. Some people enjoy playing social sports, while others prefer playing video games. While video games are widely recognized as legitimate ways to relieve stress, the effects of gaming can vary, depending on how you play and the type of game you play.
Effects of casual video games on mood
Recent studies have shown that casual video games can have positive effects on mood, especially when played regularly. According to the researchers, the effects of playing these games on mood are significant and may be a way to combat depression and anxiety. In this study, participants played a variety of casual video games for a month, and their results showed a significant decrease in anxiety and depression.
The positive effects of playing video games may also be due to their reward-based features. This means that successful gamers often report increased mood after the game session and a desire to continue playing. They also report that they find the challenge of playing these games enjoyable. These positive effects of gaming have been found by qualitative, psychological, and physiological studies.
In addition to mood, the researchers found that these games increase heart rate, which could be a reflection of the challenge or threat a player perceives. While this increase in heart rate is not surprising, it suggests that these games can have a more complex impact on stress levels.
Effects of casual video games on physiological stress
A recent study looked at the effects of casual video game play on physiological stress and mood. It found that those who played casual games showed a reduction in physiological stress and improved mood. These findings support the idea that playing video games can be an effective way to relieve chronic stress. Although this study only included casual video games, other forms of video game play may also reduce stress.
The study used the Biopsychosocial Model of Challenge and Threat to examine the effects of video game play on physiological stress. Participants were given instructions on how to appraise their perceived threat and challenge and then were asked to play a fighting video game or a puzzle game (Tetris). The participants were assessed for their heart rate variability and positive emotion ratings after the game play.
While the relationship between video game Pragmatic Play and psychological distress is complex, online multiplayer games are associated with reduced levels of loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Online AR and multiplayer games may be especially beneficial because they help alleviate stress. However, when played by at-risk individuals, video games may have negative effects on depression, loneliness, and GD.
Effects of mindfulness-meditation on stress
A new study suggests that mindfulness-meditation may be helpful in reducing stress and anxiety associated with online gaming. The researchers found that participants who practiced the practice reported decreased stress and anxiety in the same study as people who had never practiced it before. According to the study, the practice increased self-awareness and reduced the participants’ tendency to engage in negative behavior.
However, some research on the subject is not conclusive. Although mindfulness has been shown to reduce the risk of depression, it is not effective in treating recurrent depression. One trial was published with great media hype, but the study failed to show any benefit in preventing relapse. The Daily Mail reported on the trial without mentioning that the participants’ depression returned after trying the practice.
Mindfulness-meditation is known to improve focus, cognitive flexibility, and relationships. It can also help reduce stress because it teaches practitioners to focus on the present and not worry about the past or future. In fact, most gamers experience this state of mindfulness when they play games. The term “flow” refers to the experience of being totally absorbed in an activity, and well-designed games encourage this state of mind.