Third of gamers say online play good for their mental health
More than a third (35%) of Irish gamers believe online gaming benefits their mental health by providing an outlet for stress relief.
This is according to a survey of 1,006 adults conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom. The wide-ranging Connected Lives survey included an analysis of online gaming and its impact on people’s lives, spending and mental health. It found that half of Irish adults identified as online gamers – ie those who play video games that require an Internet connection. This rises to 75% for those aged between 18 and 24. The research also found that male gamers are spending almost an hour more on their hobby per day than female gamers.
The survey revealed that the average gamer in Ireland spends €180.30 per year on online gaming. That includes money spent on new games, add-ons, in-game purchases and consoles. Again, this increases significantly for 18-24 year-olds, who spend an average of €291.50 per year. Male gamers were also more likely to dig deep to fund their online gaming hobby than female gamers, spending €260 versus €132.50 per year.
This theme continued with regard to the amount of time being spent on online gaming. On the average day, male gamers spent two hours and 20 minutes playing online games, compared to one hour 26 minutes for female gamers. The average among the entire online gaming community was one hour and 47 minutes per day.
Pure Telecom’s research also provided insights into why online gaming has such widespread appeal and why adults are dedicating significant proportions of their days to it. In addition to the perceived mental health benefits, the survey found that 21% of gamers enjoyed the social aspect of online gaming, while 19% believed it enhances problem-solving skills. Despite these merits, gamers who said online gaming is their main hobby are in the minority, at just 16%.
Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: “The findings from our research demonstrate the significant and multifaceted impact that online gaming is having on our society. Online gaming is not only an outlet for entertainment, but also provides a space for people to build connections, have a chat with other gamers and look after their mental wellbeing. These findings are consistent with recent research [from SFI research centre Lero] which shows that gamers can perform better and faster at cognitive challenges.
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