A new study has found that boys that spend a lot of time playing video games have a lower risk of depression. Video games seem to be taking over the lives of young boys everywhere. Moms are constantly trying to get their child off the video game long enough to come and have a meal, or to have a shower. She may be worried about the effects of playing video games for so long, including all the time that is spent sitting in front of a screen. However, it is starting to feel like this is just the way it is going to be for young boys, but thankfully, it is not all that bad.
According to Study Finds, playing video games could have a positive effect on the mental health of young boys. Researchers from the University College of London (UCL) have found that boys who regularly play video games have a much lower risk of depression when they reach their teenage years.
The study, which was published by UCL here, states that video games have an element of problem-solving and social interaction, and those are just two factors that can “boost” the mental health of young boys. There have been worries about the very real concern that an addiction can develop with too much screen time, but not a lot of studies have been done on how the different forms of media affect children. When completing the study, they looked at 11,341 teenagers born between the years 2000 and 2002. When they were 11, they asked them how much time they spend online on social media, playing video games, or just surfing the internet.
When the kids aged to 15 years old, they all answered questions in regards to depressive symptoms. They found that the boys who spent a lot of time playing video games had much lower symptoms of depression. They also looked at girls of the same age, and with the same questions. They found that girls who use social media extensively, were more likely to suffer from depression.
An interesting note to take away from the study is that boys who did not play outside, got more enjoyment from their video games and they benefited more from the social interaction. This was more than the kids who regularly played outside. The researchers state that even though this is proof that video games do have some benefits for young boys, it is still important to make sure that young boys are encouraged to get outside and get some physical activity.
Sources: Study Finds, UCL