Surname 1 Student Name Professor Course Date How Video Games Affect the Mental Health of Young Adults The effects of video games on the mental health of young adults is a subject that has gained much attention in the recent past. With video games becoming one of the most engaging ways through which individuals, especially youths aged 18 to 34, spend their time, researchers have also explored the possible benefits and harms that the practice has on well-being. In the article “The Brain-Boosting Power of Video Games,” Daphne Bavelier and C. Shawn Green suggest that video games can improve skills like working memory, divided attention, Mental Rotation, and Reaction Time. They concluded that their findings prove video games enhance the brain in a manner akin to improving problem-solving skills. Likewise, Yao (666) argues that such games lead to aggression. Yao further asserts the matter that frequent exposure to violent scenes in video games makes people more calloused to violence, hence bringing about increased violent conduct in their actual day-to-day lives. These two approaches demonstrate that the impact of video games on mental health is not unilateral and has many layers. While works discuss the possibility of enhancing cognitive abilities through playing games, others focus on the negative effects like aggressiveness or addiction. As such, it is possible to suggest that video games’ influence on young adults’ mental health also crucially depends on factors such as the types of games and the amount of time spent on them. This paper will examine the advantages and disadvantages of video games as a source of entertainment for young adults. Positive Effects of Video Games on Mental Health Surname 2 One of the best benefits of video games is that they can help improve various mental faculties. The studies have found that playing video games, particularly those involving logical thinking, helps enhance cognitive abilities such as space perception, ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, and decision-making (Lie et al., 1). For instance, a Reynaldo et al. (212) study revealed that action-based video games facilitate a player’s cognitive processing speed and decision-making. These cognitive skills are applicable in the real world in situations like driving, learning, and performing tasks in pressuring situations. Also, modern video games can be effective in enhancing memory and learning. Activities like playing games requiring an individual to solve a puzzle or complete a maze would activate memory-formation regions of the brain. Working memory and the ability to switch between tasks can be enhanced more than nongamers by playing regular video games. These suggest that gaming may offer a mental activity that facilitates better brain functioning of young adults, improving their academic performance and problem-solving in their daily lives. Video games are also beneficial in terms of their emotional roles, allowing players to relieve stress and regulate their emotions. In simple terms, video games can act as a stress reliever for young adults stressed by academic success, job insecurity, or relationship issues. Video games help young adults overcome everyday stressors by providing an opportunity to play games instead of being overwhelmed by stress. Studies back up the notion that video games are a beneficial way for players to regulate themselves emotionally and become less anxious. Casual games, such as Bejeweled and Tetris, were argued to help alleviate stress and boost mood, as reported by Russoniello et al. (55). Computer games, especially those that use reinforcing techniques, can make a player happy and come out of the play session feeling more refreshed and with less feelings of hopelessness as compared to when the game is not being played. These Surname 3 benefits of emotional regulation can prove to be very helpful, especially to young adults who suffer from certain mental disorders, including anxiety and depression. One social implication of old-school video games is that they are anti-social, but this is not the case with today’s games, especially those that allow multiple players and online gaming. Today’s video games, particularly the ones with multi-playing options, afford young adults some form of social relations besides competition amongst themselves or with other teams/players. Players of online games can socialize with friends or individuals unknown to them, which yields social interactions and a sense of identity (Kort‐Butler, 2021). Online gaming, therefore, is an essential avenue of social interaction for some young adults, especially those with social anxieties or who live in rural regions. People with social problems in the real world can build friendships through the online games they play to fill their loneliness void (Akin, 6). Video games can offer a sense of community and camaraderie that can help alleviate loneliness and isolation. Furthermore, multiplayer games require communication and teamwork, which can improve players’ social skills and promote collaboration. Games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Overwatch encourage players to work together to achieve a common goal, fostering cooperation and problem-solving among teammates. These social benefits demonstrate that video games can, in many cases, enhance young adults’ social well-being and contribute positively to their mental health. Negative Effects of Video Games on Mental Health Despite the many positive aspects of video gaming, concerns about addiction and compulsive gaming behavior are widespread. For some young adults, video games can become an obsessive activity that interferes with daily responsibilities and negatively impacts mental health (Altintas, 2019). The World Health Organization officially recognized “gaming disorder” Surname 4 as a mental health condition in 2018, describing it as a pattern of gaming behavior characterized by impaired control, increased priority given to gaming over other activities, and continued gaming despite negative consequences (Gaming Disorder, n.p). Video game addiction can lead to a range of negative mental health outcomes, including increased anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. When young adults prioritize gaming over other aspects of life—such as work, school, or relationships—their mental health can suffer. Excessive gaming has been linked to poor sleep, lower academic performance, and strained relationships with family and friends (King et al.). Over time, compulsive gaming can exacerbate feelings of isolation and reduce overall well-being. One of the most controversial aspects of video games is their potential link to increased aggression and violent behavior. Some violent video games, particularly those that involve firstperson shooting or combat, may desensitize players to violence and promote aggressive thoughts and behaviors. Although the relationship between violent video games and real-world aggression is still debated, violent media can increase aggressive tendencies in specific individuals. A metaanalysis by Anderson et al. (156) found that violent video games are associated with increased aggressive thoughts and behaviors, as well as decreased empathy for others. While the effects are not universal—many gamers play violent video games without displaying aggression—some young adults may be more susceptible to these influences. Additionally, repeated exposure to violent content may desensitize players to the consequences of violence, reducing their sensitivity to real-life suffering and aggression. On the one hand, some people can find social interaction through video games, but on the other hand, those who spend long hours playing games may end up becoming socially isolated and depressed. Individuals who play video games for several hours a day may have reduced time Surname 5 to engage with people around them; thus, they may feel lonely and abandoned by their peers. This isolation can be further magnified because some games do not even support multiplayer features. Studies have also established that symptoms of depression are likely to be exacerbated among people who use gaming as an escape mechanism. Gaming addiction was associated with more significant symptoms of depression and anxiety in youth and emerging adults, primarily when the youth used gaming as an escape from their real-life issues. This implies that while video games can be used to reduce stress, the short-term effects may lead to more serious mental health problems in the long run if video games are used as the primary method of handling stress. The Role of Moderation In light of the prospects of both positive and negative impacts, one can preserve the positive, life-enhancing consequences of video games as primary for grown-up youth when controlling their use. The duration and type of games being played and the individual’s attitude towards gaming all dictate whether or not gaming will be healthy for the individual or otherwise. One of the most important aspects of gaming is moderation, which ensures that it does not dominate an individual’s daily life activities. Video gaming is harmless when practiced occasionally or during leisure time and stress; therefore, young adults should avoid spending numerous hours on gaming to the extent of neglecting critical responsibilities or social interactions. Jones et al. (7) argue that moderate gaming—considered as one to three hours of gaming per day—has positive impacts on cognition and mood but does not have detrimental effects on mental health. Healthy gaming habits can be observed by setting strict session times, playing in intervals with breaks, and ensuring that real-world interactions are not ignored. With proper moderation and management, young adults should be able to harness the positive impacts Surname 6 of video games while avoiding the negative repercussions that are associated with substance dependence and loneliness. Other factors that affect healthy gaming among young adults include increased parental involvement and self-regulation. Since children and teenagers are the primary users of gaming facilities, parents and guardians are responsible for supervising their children and preventing them from playing adult games or spending too much time on gaming facilities. Consequently, it becomes possible for young adults to find ways to regulate their gaming habits to avoid becoming addicted by setting goals and a schedule for gaming and seeking professional help if they feel that they are already spending too much time gaming. The Future of Video Games and Mental Health Therefore, it will be crucial to continue assessing how technological developments in video games will likely open up new and different avenues in both the positive and negative aspects of the interface between games and mental health. There is an argument that the advancement in video and computer games incorporating Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) is even more effective in providing these experiences to the users and could even positively or negatively impact mental health. One emerging field that can help in therapy is the application of video games in therapy. Scholars and practitioners in mental health have begun to consider a new category of games — serious games — focused on enhancing mental health. For instance, game-based applications that borrow from cognitive-behavioral therapy are being employed in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. One study found that therapeutic video games can enhance the process of emotional self-regulation and decrease depressive symptoms in young adults (Kowal et al., 5). Altogether, as therapy with video games slowly enters the scope of mental health practices, it might serve as an effective instrument in the Surname 7 therapy of young adults’ diseases and the increase in their well-being (Männikkö et al., 2022). On the other hand, users are becoming more submerged in VR and AR games, which can result in further issues governing gamers’ conduct. These advances may lead to more possibilities of the players getting addicted and isolating themselves in their virtual world. It will be crucial for researchers to investigate further the implications of these novel gaming technologies on mental health and ways to prevent deleterious consequences. Conclusion video games can have positive, negative, and neutral effects on the mental health of young adults. Despite them having some positive impacts like enhancing cognitive abilities, providing relief from emotional stress, and social connectedness, they are associated with adverse consequences like addiction, aggressive behaviors, and social isolation when taken in large proportions. Again, it is up to individuals to regulate and limit their playtime when engaging in video games to ensure that any benefits from video games positively impact their mental health. In other words, while video games can be pretty damaging when played excessively or improperly, the danger can be avoided since the benefits of playing video games are numerous when done appropriately. In light of these findings, the authors suggested that as technology advances, researchers and mental health professionals must remain vigilant in investigating the effects of video games and designing prevention and remediation strategies that can encourage healthy gaming practices. 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