Author Name:- Sara Naseem and Tanush Chugh Date:- 27,April,2026
Abstract
Background:
Video Games have raised concerns about addiction and psychological harm.
Organisations such as the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organisation have created a diagnostic criteria for Internet Gaming Disorder sparking debate about gaming and whether it should be classified as a mental health disorder.
Objectives:
Our research aims to explore whether video games are inherently harmful. Our research question is: Do video games always have a harmful effect on an individual and their community?
Method:
A survey was conducted among gamers and non-gamers aged 11 to 40 within our community. Closed ended questions detected weekly playtime, genre, age and the perceived benefits of gaming by gamers answering the questionnaire. Open-ended questions were included so participants could explain their experiences.
Results:
Respondents who gamed moderately (under 10 hours per week) associated gaming with positive results such as improved problem-solving, reflexes, teamwork, and a recreational activity for stress relief. Excessive gaming (20 or more hours per week) brought problems such as disruption in sleep, strained relationships and constant irritability.
Conclusions:
The impact of gaming is mostly due to content, self regulation and the time spent gaming. These factors play a huge role in determining whether gaming is a powerful recreational activity or a psychological harm.
Keywords: video games, moderation, cognition.
