The effect of video games on development and health among children and youth - Psychological and somatic aspects

Abstract

Video games are one of the most popular pasttimes of children and youth alike. The research on effects of playing video games reaches back only two decades, and is marred by suboptimal methodologies and conflicting evidence. Still, some cautious conclusions can be drawn from current research. Violent video games increase aggression, but the effect is significantly lower than with tv violence. More recent studies show a larger effect than older ones, suggesting that newer video games with more realistically portraited violence has a larger effect on aggression. Still, a firm causal link is yet to be determined. Addiction to video games concern a small subgroup. Research on the relation between video games and variables like self-esteem and network of friends show conflicting results. Some types of video games promote perceptual and cognitive improvements on for example visual attention and mental rotation. Exaggerated video gaming can cause several types of arm or hand problems. The evidence for related back problems is poor. There is no relation between myopia and video games. Video games may cause epileptic fits in certain very few individuals (not in all epileptics), and the effect from one particular video game was much higher than regular tv programs.