Study suggests video games can help mental health

A file photo of Nintendo Switch game consoles in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. The researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute said they found the actual amount of time spent playing was a small but significant positive factor in people’s well-being. — AP

LONDON: A study by Oxford University researchers on how playing video games affects mental health used data from video game makers, marking what the authors say is a rare collaboration between academics and the game industry.

Lack of transparency from game makers has long been an issue for scientists hoping to better understand player behaviours.