A recent study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics has found evidence that excessive amounts of gaming can lead to increased depression, bad grades, and social problems
In the article it does say that the 'excessive' gamers are over 31 hours a week, im similar to you in i play bout 2-3 hours a day but that makes it to be about 21 hours a week which isint much more than the average 19 hours that apparantly is ok.
while its an interesting idea it seems this research is out to blame gaming, it states that a socially akward person is more likely to be an excessive gamer, n therefore is more likely to be depressed. Its blaming gaming when its probably more to the point that they are socially akward not gaming, it doesnt concider alot of factors lyk that, as if us gamers need more sterotypes lyk that
I hate the way they look at the extreme cases of people who game and decide its gaming thats the problem, not the people, even though violence and depression existed long before games. If gaming didn't exist I could imagine the same people would be involved in some other form of anti-social activities.
These studies never make sense as we know that as normal people who are gamers, we actually have friends in real life and do go outside, and more obviously, aren't depressed and want to shoot people GTA style.
I can personally tell you that video games impacted my study habits a lot. Everything is bad when done a lot. Not just video games, you eat too much you become fat etc.... Everything must be done in moderation.
i passed highschool with a 3.2 gpa, and i practically skipped once a week, played games over 60 hours a week, drank, played soccer, whatever a normal teenager does...to add to that, its a pretty hard school too compared to others...dont give me that shi777777
to be honest i sort of agree with the article, i grew up playing a ton of video games and i did pretty poorly in school and didnt really care about the social aspects of it at all, i mean i still out to clubs and bars, and i do know a fair amount of people, and most of my friends are very GTL, but still i can resonate with this article on a personal level...and i dont think i would consider my self over weight, or skinny and week, most people dont even know i play video games as much as i do...
wow only 3.2, man i slept through high school and still get 4.0. Just wait to you get to college though, high school doesn't mean shitz. But i do have a friend who is kicking ass in med school and still play game so much. So i'm not sure. Although i can't really vouch for his social life though, that guy is somewhat anti social and little mess up in the head. So there are thing that does apply from the article, but there are exception to everything i guess.
I think the kids who have problems play games eight hours a day. To me this isn't a gaming issue though. It's a parenting issue. The parents should have limits on this stuff.
You gotta play different games. Those who play COD everyday get obssesive. I am a video game collector, and I have over 300 games at my own disposal. Which is actually pretty food seeing as I get very small pay cheques. It's built up over years.
I got bad "grades" at school (GCSE) on the subjects that i hav (and still hav) NO interest in, like French, Religious Education, Physical Education, History, WTF? my school were BONKERS tryin to teach me all that rubbish
Chemistry, Biology and Physics i got HIGH grades, my teachers were blown away
As for depression, just watch TV, X-Factor, Eastenders the NEWS
So called "experts" say smokin pot leads to depression, id argue that it does the opposite, for me, it takes me outta depression just like gamin
Chemistry pisses me the hell off but that has nothing to do with my gaming in my opinion....its just for people that play too much and dont have their priorities straight.
Fuck it, I'll be the fourth to jump on your nuts instead of just agreeing. BTW, did you guys see the guy in that picture? lol, what a noob, that's not the way you play the 64.
Well said. Moderation is the key. I am somewhat of a binge gamer. If a cool game comes out, then I will play it incessantly. But if there aren't any new games out that intrigue me, then I won't play that much. I probably average less than 3 hours a day.
This study is very biased and was clearly trying to contrive a particular result. Didn't they say the same thing about television and rock-and-roll back in the day?
Nonsense study. I start of playing games happy and when I win, I am happier. Even if I lose and still have a good time, then mission completed. Also, I know dudes who game for some 12 hours a day but they study just as hard and pass with high grades.
True depression is usually caused by chemical imbalances, bad diet, or just overall depressive natured personalities. I really don't think video games create depression. Maybe depressed people play video games...that makes more sense to me.
after playing games almost every day for hours at a time and many hours over the course of a week, i call BS. it's not video games. it's all of the new technology that keeps coming every year. people are more occupied with their computers and phones than they are with their own families.
Depressed people might play video games excessively because they don't confident enough to socialize with other people. That makes sense to me, but that would mean depression was a problem BEFORE they started playing games, rather than after...
This is only for the idiots that were already idiots b4 they're introduced to gaming. I play games on an AVERAGE of 5 hours a day. I get straight A's and B's and I'm at the top of my class at OU. People need to stop blaming outside sources when it is the kids themselves of the shitty parents.
What a load of bull! I been playing games for about 4-7 hours a day ever since I was 6 years old and I never received a grade lower than a B. English is not even my first language. I was learning it while playing games. Even now in college I have a 3.6 gpa and still play loads of video games.
Edit: To comment on the depression part of this study. For me, games actually bring me relaxation and peace. I enjoy coming home from school or work, sitting down on the couch, and just getting lost in a fantasy world that someone else has created.
When I was younger, I was always playing playstation 1 & 2. At that time, every game was almost a WW2 game. So basically I learned a lot of American history through video games.
Video games have more positives than negatives in my opinion. They even inspired me to pursue a major in computer science so that I may help create and design games in the future.
Ya but the problem I think is when a kid has got work and is not doing because he wants to play videogames or any other type of fun it should come after the responsibilty the kid has
Well yea, excess of anything one thing will lead to the falter of another thing. Average person sleeps and goes to school/job for 14-16 hours a day. If you go to school and have a job, you have even less time. Add excess gaming and that will start to take away from studying. Add any sports or anything you do outside of school and that will be even less time you have to prepare for school.
Why does the news blame gaming for alot of things? Kids failing? BLAME GAMING. Its not like they are confused on the material or are distracted by friends, family problems, its the GAMING/s
Would be interesting to see a group of clinically depressed people given games in lieu of endless medication. A 'study' if you will.Not funded by any pharmaceutical company or related party with any interest in medication.
Wow is there anything that IS good for you? Everything has a positive and negative thing like too much sunlight can cause skin cancer too much eating red meat can cause heart disease etc etc.
I say stop worrying about these bs researchers who would rather research something as pointless as this than finding cures for cancer.
Live your life do what you want the world ends in 2012 anyway. :D
Isn't this all connected to balance. When your life is in balance it leads to a happier existence. I love gaming as it stimulate parts of my brain and imagination. I love to read for the same reason. I enjoy my work as its rewarding, I love spending time with my girl. I love spending time with family and friends, I could go on. My point is as human beings we have many needs and to satisfy one while neglecting others can lead to an imbalance, which might lead to depression.
How good is it, you go gym in the morning, you go to work, see friends at lunch time, get home, get a kiss from your girl, stick on your new game and a get few hours in. Load up a DVD and curl up with ya girl and whatever whatever.... Now that's a damn good day.
31 hours a week is a bit long. i play about 2 hours a day if that. and thats when i get a new game, and thats between my Wii and DS. normally its about an hour to half hour
BS! I play video games 3 hours every day and I have straight A's and I'm stoked as hell over life. This deserves a self high-five
I got bad "grades" at school (GCSE) on the subjects that i hav (and still hav) NO interest in, like French, Religious Education, Physical Education, History, WTF? my school were BONKERS tryin to teach me all that rubbish
Chemistry, Biology and Physics i got HIGH grades, my teachers were blown away
As for depression, just watch TV, X-Factor, Eastenders the NEWS
So called "experts" say smokin pot leads to depression, id argue that it does the opposite, for me, it takes me outta depression just like gamin
Reality -> Depression
Imagination -> 1 happy mofo
Lies, lies...
Excessive anything is usually bad.
That's why it's excessive.
I don't know about depression but social anxiety then yea, but I have no trouble believing the bad grades part