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Did you know that almost half of all US teens report playing video games daily? Video games are at the center of many youths’ lives today, with many universities now offering scholarships for gaming through the National Association of Collegiate E-Sports (NACE).
Video games offer a mix of benefits and risks. Finding a healthy balance is key.
Gaming and Teens
Gaming is one of the most common ways teens spend their free time, with nearly 85% of U.S. teens reporting that they play video games. Video games provide an entertaining outlet for teens to burn off energy, connect with friends online, and improve problem-solving skills (depending on the game they are playing).
Video games present a mixed landscape for mental health, offering both significant benefits and notable risks. Research has shown that gaming can provide youth with stress relief, social connection, and promote skill mastery. It engages players in a creative, immersive, goal-oriented experience that can benefit youth development. However, there is also a dark side to gaming [1].
The Dark Side of Gaming
Excessive video game playing has been linked to increased social anxiety, higher rates of depression, and even certain physical health problems such as insomnia and eye strain. So, when does gaming become a problem? Let’s explore.
Video Game Addiction: Real or Myth Created By Parents?
Video gaming can turn into a kind of behavioral addiction that impacts similar regions of the brain as drugs or alcohol, such as the basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. These areas play a key role in functions such as mood, emotional regulation, impulse control, decision-making, and stress response [2].
“Gaming disorder” is an official DSM-5 diagnosis now recognized by major health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and American Psychological Association (APA).
The criteria to be diagnosed with gaming disorder include[3]:
- Impaired functioning from video game use
- Continuing to play despite harmful consequences
- Anger, irritability, or aggression when they can’t access video games
- Inability to stop playing video games without intervention or support
Gaming and Depression: Examining the Links
Excessive video gaming in teens has been linked to increased risks of depression, social isolation, lack of face-to-face contact, and disrupted sleep patterns. Excessive gaming is thought to have a bidirectional relationship with depression, meaning depression can lead to increased gaming, and increased gaming can worsen symptoms of depression.
The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that each additional hour of video game play per week is linked to a significant increase in depression and anxiety scores among teens [4]. This highlights the need to limit the amount of hours teens spend playing video games.
Other factors related to gaming that can increase the risk of depression in teens include cyberbullying, competitive stress, and disrupted sleep patterns.
Video Games and Anxiety: Stress Relief through Game Play
Nearly 71% of video game players report that it helps reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Teens often use gaming to release stress from school or peers and burn off excess energy.
However, when excessive gaming interferes with sleep, social functioning, academic or work responsibilities, it can increase anxiety. Research has also found that competitive or multiplayer online games may heighten stress and anxiety due to social pressure, fear of failure, perfectionism, exposure to violence, verbal harassment, or cyberbullying [5].
Physical Health Risks and Excessive Gaming
Studies have found that playing video games for more than 3 hours at a time significantly increases the risk of physical health issues. Players have 2 to 3 times higher risk of problems with eye strain, neck and shoulder pain, and fatigue compared to those who play less. Excessive gaming has also been linked to increased risk of obesity in teens due to continuous sedentary behavior and snacking.
According to a 2024 study published in Nature magazine [6]:
- 52% of gamers report back or neck pain.
- 46% experience eye fatigue and pain.
- 45% suffer from hand, wrist, or thumb pain, known as “gamer’s thumb”.
Can Video Games Be Good for Teen Mental Health?
Age-appropriate video games with moderate screen time are not harmful to teens and can even provide some mental health benefits. These include:
- Improved cognitive functions: Video games can improve skills such as memory retention, impulse control, and strategic thinking.
- Foster social connection: A majority of teens who play video games report they enjoy the social benefits of connecting with friends. Gamers foster a sense of community through friendships and teamwork.
- Strengthen emotional resilience: Facing virtual challenges can help teens develop skills that they can apply in real life, such as persistence and coping with failure.
- Boost mood: Motivation and mood may be improved from achieving goals and earning rewards in games.
- Support mental health: Some games educate teens about mental health or are therapeutically designed to aid in anxiety, depression, and ADHD in teens.
Video Games as Therapy and Case Studies on Therapeutic Gaming
Video games are gaining recognition as a valuable tool in therapy settings to support mental and physical recovery, particularly among youth. Studies on The Video Game Therapy® (VGT®) Approach found that it can enhance emotional literacy and identity development in therapy. It can also effectively support and improve treatment outcomes for mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD [7].
Some current video games being used in mental health therapy settings include:
- Sparx: Uses a fantasy game setting to increase coping skills that combat depression.
- Super Better: Helps teens build personal resilience to overcome challenges in life, set goals, and use positive reinforcement to reduce anxiety.
- Animal Crossing: Provides a safe, stress-free, virtual environment that can aid in anxiety reduction.
- Tetris: Primarily used in military PTSD patients to reduce flashbacks by engaging the brain in visuospatial tasks, it shows promise for treating symptoms of complex trauma.
Encouraging Teens to Practice Healthy Gaming
In moderation, gaming can be a healthy and creative outlet for teens to connect with peers, stay entertained, and improve cognitive functioning. Encourage them to practice healthy gaming habits, such as taking regular breaks and engaging in extracurricular activities.
Parental Controls, Privacy, and Independence
Balancing respect for privacy and autonomy while still being concerned for your teens ‘ safety is something that many parents struggle with. Although it’s healthy to give your teen more trust and independence the older they get, if video games are negatively impacting their mental health, it might make sense to use parental controls. Some games have these built in, and there are also several apps to support parents with tracking, monitoring, or restricting online access to teens.
These should be used effectively, not as a harsh punishment. Parents can set age-appropriate game restrictions, limit screentime, and manage online interactions (e.g., restrict private messages from strangers). It’s important to combine the use of these tools with open communication about responsible gaming to build trust with your teen and encourage them to develop digital responsibility.
Engaging with Video Games Mindfully
Encourage your teen to develop self-awareness around their gaming habits. Have them keep track of how much time they are spending playing video games each day and take regular breaks. Mindful gaming involves recognizing when your gaming becomes a problem, such as spending too much time playing or engaging in harmful or violent digital activities.
Balancing Gaming with Real-Life Interactions
Make sure your teen stays active and social in face-to-face activities outside of the digital world. Encourage them to spend time with family or friends, participate in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer. Set clear boundaries around gaming times, especially during meal time or family events. Gaming should complement their social life, not replace meaningful offline relationships.
Providing Education and Support for Teens and Their Families in Texas
Clearfork Academy is a network of behavioral health facilities in Texas committed to helping teens recover from behavioral addictions, substance abuse, and mental health disorders. We understand the importance of addressing gaming, online trends, and social media apps, all of which play a significant role in the lives of today’s youth.
If you think your teen is struggling with video game addiction, reach out to our team and we can support your family.
Sources
[1] Gottfried, J. et al. 2024. Teens and Video Games Today. Pew Research Center.
[2] Mohammad, S. et al (2023). Symptoms, Mechanisms, and Treatments of Video Game Addiction. Cureus, 15(3), e36957.
[3] Gaming Disorder. World Health Organization.
[4] Rozelle, S. et al. (2022). The Association between Video Game Time and Adolescent Mental Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 14815.
[5] Global Report Reveals Positive Benefits of Video Gameplay. 2023. Entertainment Software Association.
[6] Egami, H. Causal effect of video gaming on mental well-being in Japan, 2020–2022.
[7] Sarini, M. (2023). Putting the Gaming Experience at the Center of the Therapy Video Game Therapy® Approach. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 11(12), 1767.
Founder & CEO
Originally from the Saginaw, Eagle Mountain area, Austin Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry from Lee University in Cleveland, TN and a Master of Arts in Counseling from The Church of God Theological Seminary. He then went on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in the State of Texas.
Austin’s professional history includes both local church ministry and clinical counseling. At a young age, he began serving youth at the local church in various capacities which led to clinical training and education. Austin gained a vast knowledge of mental health disorders while working in state and public mental health hospitals. This is where he was exposed to almost every type of diagnosis and carries this experience into the daily treatment.
Austin’s longtime passion is Clearfork Academy, a christ-centered residential facility focused on mental health and substance abuse. He finds joy and fulfillment working with “difficult” clients that challenge his heart and clinical skill set. It is his hope and desire that each resident that passes through Clearfork Academy will be one step closer to their created design.
Austin’s greatest pleasures in life are being a husband to his wife, and a father to his growing children. He serves at his local church by playing guitar, speaking and helping with tech arts. Austin also enjoys being physically active, reading, woodworking, and music.
