Video games might offer emotional benefit to seniors, NCSU study says

Video games might have a new, untapped demographic – the elderly. Research from North Carolina State University finds that older adults who played video games reported higher levels of emotional well-being.

But the games might offer seniors more than just the satisfaction of a level completed or the enjoyment of a gaming conquest. Seniors could also be experiencing some benefit, too, according to Dr. Jason Allaire, lead author of the paper describing the gaming study and an associate professor of psychology at N.C. State.

Note: This story is being offered free of charge for a limited time. WRALTechWire Insiders will have access to exclusive, selected content like this soon.

“The research published here suggests that there is a link between gaming and better well-being and emotional functioning,” Allaire said in a statement. “We are currently planning studies to determine whether playing digital games actually improves mental health in older adults.”

The study involved 140 people aged 63 and older. Researchers asked participants how often they played video games; 61 percent of participants played video games occasionally while 35 percent are more regular gamers, reporting that they placed at least once a week. The seniors then participated in a battery of tests to assess their emotional and social well-being.

Participants who played video games, including those who only played occasionally, reported higher levels of well-being, study results show. Those who did not play video games reported more negative emotions and a tendency toward higher levels of depression.

The paper, “Successful aging through digital games: Socioemotional differences between older adult gamers and non-gamers,” was published online this week in Computers in Human Behavior. It was co-authored by Dr. Anne McLaughlin, an assistant professor of psychology at NC State; NC State Ph.D. students Amanda Trujillo, Laura Whitlock and Landon LaPorte; and Dr. Maribeth Gandy of the Georgia Institute of Technology. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation.