Shooting for pleasure: Playing video games a stress buster for millenials

Turns out, playing video games has become a key strategy for coping with stress.

A new study of millennial gamers has revealed that video-gamers believe that playing video games help them to unwind and relieve stress. A team of researchers quizzed 1,000 gamers, aged between 18 and 30, and found 55 % agreeing to the same.

47 % of the participants were found to think performing well in a game has a positive impact on their lives, allowing them to look upon other aspects of their lives more positively. Also, 50 % said that they see gaming as a method to escape reality that helps them to deal with daily work pressures.

Luke Hales, GM of the Dave TV Channel, who surveyed the gamers for the millennial study said - “This survey is incredibly revealing in showing the positive mental benefits of getting together for a gaming session”.

The findings showed that gaming has emerged as a social pursuit where three out of every five gamers surveyed play, specifically to join friends or an established ‘clan’. It also came to light that on an average a gamer made three new friends in real life, through gaming. Out of all the participants, 60 % agree that gaming is a key component of their social life. The study further explored other potential benefits of gaming.

About one-third of video-gamers admitted that playing video games gives them sense of achievement. Around 42 % said they feel the happiest when they perform well in a video game. Another 27 % believed that video games helped them to deal with mental concerns and health issues.

It was also revealed that ‘Action & Adventure’ games were considered the best in gaming culture for their help in relieving stress.

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