Boys
who play video games at the age of 11 have a lower risk of depression in the
years to come or in the future.
This
was revealed in a medical study (research) in the United Kingdom.
The
University College London study also found that girls who spend more time on
social media are more likely to have symptoms of depression.
Combining
the two, results show how time spent in front of the screen in different
ways can have a positive or negative effect on children’s mental health.
Experts
involved in the research, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, say
that screens allow us to be part of a variety of activities.
Guidelines
in this regard should be formulated keeping in view the extent to which various
activities affect mental health.
“While
we cannot confirm that playing games improve mental health, the results suggest
that it is not only a harmful habit but also has some benefits, especially
during epidemics,” he said.
He
added that video games can be a social platform for children and youth.
“We
need to reduce the sitting time for children and adults to maintain good
physical and mental health, but that doesn’t mean the screens themselves are
harmful,” he said.
The
study looked at data from more than 11,000 children, a study conducted between
2000 and 2002.
The
children were asked questions about playing social media, playing video games,
or using the Internet, and at the age of 14, they were asked about their
symptoms of depression.
The
research team also considered other factors such as socioeconomic status, level
of physical activity, and others.
The
results showed that boys who are more accustomed to playing video games have a
24% lower risk of developing depressive symptoms over the next 3 years.
This
benefit was more noticeable in less physically active boys while no such effect
was observed in girls.
The
researchers said that there are some positive aspects of video games that
support mental health.
The
researchers also found that 11-year-old girls spend more time on social media.
After 3 years, their risk of developing depression increases to 13%.
Researchers
have not been able to find a clear link between the general use of the Internet
and the symptoms of depression.
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