Research suggests that playing video games could have mental health benefits under some conditions. — Photography CasarsaGuru/Getty Images/AFP Relaxnews
Often criticised, video games have a bad reputation among parents. And yet, according to research from Japan, gaming can have real benefits for the mental health of gamers, even if it's all a question of moderation.
Could turning on your console help put a smile back on your face? According to a paper titled "Causal effect of video gaming on mental well-being in Japan 2020-2022," published in Nature Human Behaviour, video games could have positive effects on mental health. This is the finding of research carried out in Japan, involving almost 100,000 people aged between 10 and 69, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The results suggest that playing video games, or even owning a console, can have a positive impact on mental well-being.
