Summary: Open-world video games can significantly improve relaxation and mental health, especially for postgraduate students. These games, offering expansive environments and player autonomy, provide a form of cognitive escapism that helps reduce stress and enhance mood.
Popular titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild allow players to explore freely, fostering a sense of mastery and purpose. Researchers found that this immersive experience directly boosted relaxation, improving overall mental well-being.
Key Facts:
- Cognitive Escapism: Open-world games help players disconnect from daily stressors and improve mood.
- Stress Reduction: Participants reported lower stress levels and enhanced relaxation after gaming.
- Mental Health Benefits: The immersive experience provided autonomy, mastery, and improved well-being.
Source: JMIR Publications
A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research has found that open-world video games can significantly improve relaxation and mental well-being among postgraduate students.
Open-world games, known for their expansive environments and player autonomy, offer a form of cognitive escapism that helps players disconnect from daily stressors and enhance their mood.
The study, a collaboration between researchers from Imperial College London, United Kingdom, and the University of Graz, Austria, used a mixed methods approach: they combined survey data from 609 players and in-depth interviews of 32 players.
Popular titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were found to provide players with a sense of freedom and autonomy, allowing them to explore and interact with virtual worlds at their own pace.
This cognitive escapism was closely linked to reduced stress levels and improved mental health. The analysis showed that playing open-world games directly boosted participants’ relaxation levels, which positively impacted well-being.
“Open-world games can offer a sense of exploration, a chance to develop and experience mastery and skill, a sense of positivity, and even purpose and meaning in life.” says Andreas B. Eisingerich of Imperial College London.
Immersive gaming experiences could serve as a method for stress management and mental health improvement. Future research could explore the long-term therapeutic potential, particularly for managing stress and anxiety in other populations.
About this gaming and mental health research news
Author: Jane Kelly
Source: JMIR Publications
Contact: Jane Kelly – JMIR Publications
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Open-World Games’ Affordance of Cognitive Escapism, Relaxation, and Mental Well-Being Among Postgraduate Students: Mixed Methods Study” by Andreas B. Eisingerich et al. JMIR
Abstract
Open-World Games’ Affordance of Cognitive Escapism, Relaxation, and Mental Well-Being Among Postgraduate Students: Mixed Methods Study
Background:
Open-world games, characterized by their expansive and interactive environments, may offer unique cognitive escapism opportunities, potentially leading to relaxation and enhanced well-being.
These games, such as “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,” allow players to experience a sense of freedom and autonomy, which can reduce stress and improve mental health.
While previous research has examined the general impact of video games on mental well-being, specific studies on the effects of open-world games among postgraduate students are limited.
Objective:
This study aims to investigate the relationships between cognitive escapism provided by open-world games and their effects on relaxation and well-being.
The goal was to understand how the immersive nature of these games contributes to stress reduction and overall mental health improvement among postgraduate students.
Methods:
A mixed methods approach was used, which involved in-depth exploratory qualitative interviews and a survey of 609 players of popular open-world games. Quantitative data were collected using standardized questionnaires to measure open-world games’ affordance of cognitive escapism, relaxation, and well-being.
Qualitative data were obtained through 32 in-depth interviews that explored players’ experiences and perceptions of cognitive escapism, relaxation, and mental well-being.
Results:
Qualitative data (n=32; n=15, 47% female; n=16, 50% male; n=1, 3% preferred not to disclose gender; mean age 23.19, SD 2.19 y) revealed that cognitive escapism through immersive game worlds allowed players to temporarily disconnect from real-world stressors, resulting in enhanced mood and psychological well-being. Players indicated that the nonlinear gameplay and freedom to explore interactive environments provided a sense of relaxation and mental rejuvenation.
Quantitative analysis (N=609) showed a substantial mediating role of relaxation in the relationship between cognitive escapism offered by open-world games and well-being. Specifically, cognitive escapism had a significant positive effect on players’ relaxation (β=.15; SE 0.04; P<.001; 95% CI 0.0695-0.2331), which in turn had a significant and positive effect on players’ well-being scores (β=.12; SE 0.04; P=.002; 95% CI 0.0445-0.2032).
Conclusions:
The study demonstrates that open-world games offer substantial benefits for cognitive escapism, significantly improving relaxation and well-being among postgraduate students. The immersive and autonomous nature of these games is crucial in reducing stress and enhancing mental health.
Future research may investigate the long-term effects of regular engagement with open-world games and explore their potential therapeutic applications for managing stress and anxiety.
