By: John Limbaugh

Gaming has become a popular pastime activity for college students over the last two decades, according to the Pew research Center. They conducted a study in 2012 to estimate the percentage of college students who play video games.

Over 70% of the participants considered themselves regular gamers. In more recent years, the American Psychological Association has found that gaming has many positive effects, especially for students.

  1. It helps develop critical thinking skills. According to the Honor Society, games like Assassin’s Creed and the Hitman series provide players with multiple options to complete missions. Players are encouraged to weigh all options and decided on the best approach to a target. This teaches players to think from multiple viewpoints and look for the best approach to a problem.
  2. It helps with hand eye coordination. First person shooters like Call of Duty and Halo require precise hand eye coordination, especially when being played competitively. This can improve skills in academic disciplines like writing and drawing.
  3. It helps improve problem solving skills. The Resident Evil games involve puzzles that the player must solve to solve in order to advance in the game. Players often have to backtrack to find a door key or commit certain things they see to memory as it will be important later.
  4. It reduces stress. Playing video games results in dopamine secretion which reduces stress and anxiety levels.
  5. It allows players to socially connect. Massive multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG’s) involve open virtual worlds and gaming communities that span the entire world. Players can talk to each other while playing together in cooperative style quests.

The University of Montevallo has its own community of gamers. Colton Rodano, a student who lives on campus, games for up to 24 hours a week. He says it helps him relieve stress and escape the problems of the real world for a short while.

“Sometimes, you just have to sit down your assignments and get away from it all.” Rodano says, “I’m always more mentally prepared to finish my assignments afterwards.

While Colton says he benefits from gaming during the day, Jake Stoup says he struggles to balance gaming and studying.

“I just can’t do it. If I sit down at my computer and start playing, I won’t get back up,” Stoup says.

Jake stoup has had difficulty managing his time and says he believes he suffers from a mild gaming addiction.

Along with the positive effects that have come to light, the American Psychological association has also explained gaming’s negative effects.

  1. It can be addictive. Because it’s so enjoyable, gaming can be difficult to stop. Players can easily lose track of time and play for hours.
  2. It can affect motivation. In a blog published by Healthygamer.org, Dr. Kabil Lal, a psychologist, explains that “eventually, our brains get used to the steady flow of dopamine released while we are gaming. The nucleus accumbens then has to release even more dopamine to make gaming feel enjoyable. As a result, players are unable to enjoy anything that isn’t as stimulating as a video game.”
  3. It can cause insomnia. According to the National institutes of health, excessive gaming before bed can make it difficult to fall asleep by hyper stimulating the brain and increasing the amount of time it takes to fall asleep. This reduces overall sleep quality.
  4. It can cause social disconnection. While online gaming allows players to socialize with each other, it can also keep them from socializing with friends and family. The more time a person spends gaming, the less time they spend with the people around them.
  5. It can cause a state of constant hyper arousal. Having the brain constantly aroused can affect not only mental, but physical health. According to the National institutes of health, hyper arousal can make it difficult to pay attention, manage emotions, and control impulses. This has been used to link video games with violent behavior among teenagers and young adults.

Today, the world health Organization acknowledges Gaming Disorder as a part of the international classification of diseases.

So how does a college student balance gaming and studying?

Courtesy of Stu Cred Blog
  1. Finish homework first. Research has shown that student gamers spend 30% less time reading and 35% less time on homework. Student gamers should set up a routine where they only game after they have finished their work. Students could use this as a method of positive reinforcement where gaming is a reward for finishing their work.
  2. Set a time limit. Time management is a valuable skill for college students. Learning to limit time spent gaming will make balancing games and work easier by reminding students that they have other things to do.
  3. Exercise. The National Health Service suggest that exercising can improve overall well-being. Students who exercise regularly will find that it enhances their mood and boosts self-esteem.
  4. Remove video games from the study environment. Separating schoolwork from video games can be easier by finding separate locations to study and game. This removes the distraction of games and can help students focus on the task at hand.
  5. Be more selective about the games you play. According to The Eyeopener, playing games that require fewer hours to finish could be a more effective way to work gaming into your schedule. Rather than investing 300+ hours in an endless virtual MMORPG, students may feel more satisfied after completing a few rounds of Call of Duty.

The takeaway is that gaming has benefits as well as risks. Students who struggle to manage their time gaming can find answers all over the internet.