scholarly journals Single and Multiplayer Video Gamers: Looking at Their Experiences and Psychosocial Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Nathan N. Su
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Relaxation Stress ◽  
Video Gamers ◽  
Multiplayer Video Games

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our lives in many different ways. One significant impact on daily life was the increased indoor time due to quarantine measures. Data collected suggests video games have become more popular than ever during these unprecedented times (Epstein, 2020). This study aims to explore the experiences and psychosocial well-being of individuals who played single and multiplayer video games during the pandemic. Data was collected through a questionnaire distributed to multiple online communities and forums from June 28th to July 29th, 2021. The total collected responses were n=260. 132 participants identified themselves as playing mostly single-player video games and 128 identified themselves as playing mostly multiplayer games. The results show during the pandemic individuals spent more time playing both types of video games. Motivations for playing single-player games trended towards decreasing anxiety and stress, and avoiding real life, whereas multiplayer motivations tended to trend towards socialization rather than decreasing stress or anxiety. During the pandemic, 40-50% of single and multiplayer gamers indicated decreased mental health. However, both types of players reported improvement in mental and social well-being while playing video games. More multiplayer gamers reported improved social well-being while playing compared to single-player gamers. The survey respondents tended to report having more positive experiences with single-player and multiplayer video games during the pandemic. Results presented video games as a way for individuals to socialize or decrease stress and anxiety. In addition, the comparison between the two types of gamers revealed that single-player respondents tended to play for relaxation, stress reduction, and perhaps improvement in mental health, while multiplayer gamers play to increase social interaction and improve social well-being. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of video games during the pandemic after everyone has returned to a pre-pandemic state.

scholarly journals A data-driven approach for examining the demand for relaxation games on Steam during the COVID-19 pandemic

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261328
Author(s):  
Maximilian Croissant ◽  
Madeleine Frister
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Data Driven Approach ◽  
Quasi Experimental

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major source of stress for a majority of people that might have negative long-term effects on mental health and well-being. In recent years, video games and their potential positive effects on stress relief have been researched and “relaxation” has been an important keyword in marketing a certain kind of video game. In a quasi-experimental design, this study investigated the increase of average daily player peak (ADPPs) for the COVID period compared to the pre-COVID period and if this increase was significantly larger for relaxing games in contrast to non-relaxing games. Results showed a medium-sized increase of ADPPs over all types of games but no difference between relaxing games and non-relaxing games. These results are discussed in regards to their potential of presenting gaps between the current theoretical models of the influence of video games on mental health and actual observed player behaviour.

scholarly journals Sub-acute and long-term effects of ayahuasca on mental health and well-being in healthy ceremony attendants: A replication study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim I. van Oorsouw ◽  
Malin V. Uthaug ◽  
Natasha L. Mason ◽  
Nick J. Broers ◽  
Johannes G. Ramaekers
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
First Time ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background and aims There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the psychedelic plant tea, ayahuasca, holds therapeutic potential. Uthaug et al. (2018) demonstrated that a single dose of ayahuasca improved mental health sub-acutely and 4-weeks post-ceremony in healthy participants. The present study aimed to replicate and extend these findings. A first objective was to assess the sub-acute and long-term effects of ayahuasca on mental health and well-being in first-time and experienced users. A second aim was to extend the assessment of altered states of consciousness and how they relate to changes in mental health. Method Ayahuasca ceremony attendants (N = 73) were assessed before, the day after, and four weeks following the ceremony. Results We replicated the reduction in self-reported stress 4-weeks post ceremony, but, in contrast, found no reduction in depression. Also, increased satisfaction with life and awareness the day after the ceremony, and its return to baseline 4 weeks later, were replicated. New findings were: reduced ratings of anxiety and somatization, and increased levels of non-judging 4-weeks post-ceremony. We replicated the relation between altered states of consciousness (e.g., experienced ego dissolution during the ceremony) and mental health outcomes sub-acutely. The effects of ayahuasca did not differ between experienced and first-time users. Conclusion Partly in line with previous findings, ayahuasca produces long-term improvements in affect in non-clinical users. Furthermore, sub-acute mental health ratings are related to the intensity of the psychedelic experience. Although findings replicate and highlight the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca, this needs to be confirmed in placebo-controlled studies.

scholarly journals Impacts of international labor migration on the mental health and well-being of left-behind children

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Antia ◽  
J Boucsein ◽  
A Deckert ◽  
P Dambach ◽  
J Racaite ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Labor Migration ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Transnational Families ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background Labor migration is a challenge for the globalised world due to its long-term effects such as the formation of transnational families with the particularly vulnerable groups of left-behind children (LBC). These families, where family members of migrant workers are 'left-behind' are becoming common practice in many developing countries. In this systematic literature review, we aimed to investigate the impacts of parental labor migration on the mental health and well-being of their LBC. Methods Following the PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic literature search in English using PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar for studies, investigating mental health and well-being among LBC who live in transnational families. Case-reports, qualitative studies as well as opinion papers were excluded. We summarized the evidence and additionally compared quantitative results. Results 25 studies were selected for the final analysis. We found that mental health and well-being outcomes of LBC differ across regions and sometimes even within regions. Only studies conducted in South America and South Asia observed purely negative effects. Overall, LBC show abnormal SDQ (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) scores and report higher levels of depression and loneliness, than children who do not live in transnational families. Evidence suggests that gender of migrant parent, culture and other transnational family characteristics such as family arrangement, the role of the mother and the role of the father contribute to the well-being and psychological health of LBC. Conclusions International migration of parents has more negative than positive effects (e.g. through remittances) on the mental health and well-being of LBC. However, the effects strongly depend on family arrangements and care giving practices in migrants' sending countries. Key messages Further research utilizing longitudinal data is needed to better explore the complex and long-term effects of parental migration on LBC. Multidimensional family characteristics are crucial and should be better explored when examining the impacts of migratory separation on left-behind children.

scholarly journals Transient and Long-Term Improvements in Cognitive Processes following Video Games: An Italian Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
Rosa Angela Fabio ◽  
Massimo Ingrassia ◽  
Marco Massa
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Flow Theory ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The Third ◽  
Video Gamers ◽  
Term Performance

The aim of the present study is to compare the short- and long-term effects of video-gaming by using the same measurements. More precisely, habitual and occasional video-gamers were compared so as to analyze the long-term effects. An ABABABA design was used to analyze the short-term effects. The first A refers to baseline measurements: Visual RT, Auditory RT, Aim trainer RT, Go/No-Go RT and N-Back RT. The first B refers to 30 min of gaming, the second A refers to the measurements used in the baseline, the second B refers to 60 min of a video game, the third A refers to the same measurements used in the baseline, the third B refers to a 30-min rest, and finally, the fourth A refers to the measurements used in the baseline. Seventy participants, twenty-nine habitual video-gamers and forty-one occasional video-gamers, participated in the study. The results showed a temporary improvement of cognitive functions (Visual RT, Auditory RT, Aim trainer RT, Go/No-Go RT and N-Back RT) in the short term and a strong enhancement of cognitive functions in the long term. The results are discussed in light of Flow Theory and the automatization process. Contribution of the study: The contribution of this research is to highlight that despite there being a transient enhancement of executive and cognitive functions through the use of mobile video games in the short-term period, with a decrease of performance after a 30-min rest, there is a strong increase of cognitive performance in the long-term period. Flow Theory and the automatization process together can explain this apparent inconsistency between the positive increase of long-term performance and the transient increase of short-term performance. One limitation of the present research is that it is not possible to distinguish whether the long-term enhancements can be attributed either to continued practice in the use of video games compared to non-gamers, or to the possibility that gamers are already predisposed to video game playing. Future research should address this issue.

A lasting sting: Examining the short-term and long-term effects of real-life group rejection

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 1109-1124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie L. Martin ◽  
Laura Smart Richman ◽  
Mark R. Leary
Keyword(s):  
Social Status ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Long Term Changes ◽  
Perceived Social Status ◽  
The Impact

Although many studies have examined the short-term effects of rejection in laboratory settings, few have investigated the impact of rejection over time or in real-world contexts. The university sorority recruitment process offers a unique opportunity to address these shortcomings. Women participating in sorority recruitment were surveyed directly before recruitment, directly after recruitment, and 3 months later. Rejected women experienced decreases in all indicators of well-being directly after recruitment and did not return to baseline on depressive symptoms, positive mental health, satisfaction with life, perceived belonging, or perceived social status 3 months later. Accepted women showed no long-term changes in well-being, with the exception that happiness and perceived social status increased from baseline. A comparison group of women who did not participate in sorority recruitment showed no significant long-term changes in well-being. Perceived belonging, but not social status, significantly mediated the long-term emotional effects of rejection. These results document that rejection experiences can have long-lasting effects.

scholarly journals In Sickness and in Health: Dyadic Perspectives on Health and Well-Being Among Older Couples

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 648-648
Author(s):  
Courtney Polenick
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract This session will incorporate a variety of dyadic methods to explore the multifaceted ways that older spouses shape their own and their partners’ health and well-being. First, Dr. Karen Lyons will consider the roles of communication, collaborative decision-making, and social support in shaping the mental health of couples managing chronic pain. Her comparative dyadic analysis highlights the value of collaborative illness management in optimizing couples’ mental health. Dr. Courtney Polenick will then describe how chronic condition discordance (i.e., the extent to which two or more conditions have non-overlapping self-management requirements) within individuals and between spouses is linked to perceived control among couples over an8-year period. This study reveals that more complex patterns of chronic conditions within couples have particularly detrimental implications for women’s perceptions of control over their own health and other life domains. Next, Dr. Kira Birditt will examine the long-term effects of spouses’ similar drinking patterns (i.e., concordance). Although drinking concordance may enhance marital satisfaction, she will explain how it can have enduring negative consequences for cardiovascular health among middle-aged men. Dr. Joan Monin will then explain the short-term benefits of laughter for blood pressure among couples during lab-based spousal support interactions. Finally, Dr. Amy Rauer will discuss how spouses react to one another’s health-related support attempts using in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with both members of the couple. Taken together, these studies underscore the importance of evaluating dynamic short-term and long-term health-related influences among couples in middle and later life. Dyadic Research on Health and Illness Across the Adult Lifespan Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

Comparing the social networks of service users with long term mental health needs living in community with those in a general adult in-patient unit

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110175
Author(s):  
Roberto Rusca ◽  
Ike-Foster Onwuchekwa ◽  
Catherine Kinane ◽  
Douglas MacInnes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Patient Group ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Practical Support ◽  
The Social

Background: Relationships are vital to recovery however, there is uncertainty whether users have different types of social networks in different mental health settings and how these networks may impact on users’ wellbeing. Aims: To compare the social networks of people with long-term mental illness in the community with those of people in a general adult in-patient unit. Method: A sample of general adult in-patients with enduring mental health problems, aged between 18 and 65, was compared with a similar sample attending a general adult psychiatric clinic. A cross-sectional survey collected demographic data and information about participants’ social networks. Participants also completed the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale to examine well-being and the Significant Others Scale to explore their social network support. Results: The study recruited 53 participants (25 living in the community and 28 current in-patients) with 339 named as important members of their social networks. Both groups recorded low numbers in their social networks though the community sample had a significantly greater number of social contacts (7.4 vs. 5.4), more monthly contacts with members of their network and significantly higher levels of social media use. The in-patient group reported greater levels of emotional and practical support from their network. Conclusions: People with serious and enduring mental health problems living in the community had a significantly greater number of people in their social network than those who were in-patients while the in-patient group reported greater levels of emotional and practical support from their network. Recommendations for future work have been made.

scholarly journals Feasibility and Enjoyment of Exercise Video Games in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 559-559
Author(s):  
Sara Freed ◽  
Briana Sprague ◽  
Lesley Ross
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Xbox Kinect ◽  
Game Developers

Abstract Interventions using exercise video games, or exergames, have shown short-term cognitive and physical benefits to older adults, though long-term effects are less promising. Enjoyment of exergames may promote exergame use after the intervention period, though little work has examined older adults’ views of exergames before and after gameplay experience. We invited 20 older adults between 65 and 84 years of age (M=73.30, SD=5.95) to play two Xbox Kinect games, Just Dance and Kinect Sports Rivals, for twenty minutes. In our presentation, we will present qualitative and quantitative findings of this pilot study, including findings that older adults reported that they were not likely to play similar exergames in the future and that they did not find the exergames to be more fun compared to other ways of exercising. We will discuss implications for game design and research relevant to game developers, manufacturers, and researchers. Part of a symposium sponsored by Technology and Aging Interest Group.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document