A recent study conducted by Texas A&M International University was conducted to determine whether there was any correlation between stress/depression levels, and violent video games.
Previous studies have indicated that violent video games can have a negative effect on a person’s personality traits.
This study concluded the opposite, finding that playing games reduced hostility and depression levels. Four test groups comprising of a total of 103 predominantly Hispanic students were each given a scientifically proven stress inducing activity called the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task. After having spent enough time to develop sufficiently high stress levels, two groups were given violent video games to play (CoD2 and Hitman: Blood Money). A third group was given a non-violent game (Madden 2007), and the final control group was told that they could not play any games due to a technical problem.
The findings were somewhat of a mixed bag:
As with aggressive behavior, the evidence did not support that short-term randomized exposure to violent video games either increased or decreased hostile feelings or depression. By contrast long-term exposure to violent video games was associated with reduced hostile feelings and depression following a stressful task. Subjects who were exposed to violent video games were not less aggressive, but they were less hostile and depressed.
The researchers added the following
The fervor over violent video games which has become intensely politicized (we would argue this unfortunately extends to the scientific community) may be ‘much ado about nothing.’ In the end, a game may simply be a game.
They also added that the sample group was too small and narrow to make any meaningful statement, as it tested a relatively small number of people within a limited ethnic and social group (Hispanic students).
The entire study seems a bit over simplistic, as it does not take into account the actual gameplay experience. For instance, 2 hours spent getting decimated in online CoD4 is more likely to have a negative effect on your mood than if you are the one doing the decimating. A violent game can either incredibly frustrating, or it can be load of fun, and depending on the individual experience, the effects on hostility and depression levels should vary.
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