Part 1: When Online Gaming Becomes Unhealthy

The online video gaming industry is on a boom trajectory. Global video games and esports is expected to grow from $216B in revenue in 2021 to $324B by 2026 according to findings from PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2022-2026. All genders from all over the world play, from young through advanced age.

By far, it’s young males who love spending time playing video games. A 2017 Pew Research Center survey found that seventy-two percent of American males 18-29 years old either often or sometimes play video games. It’s young men in particular who sometimes struggle with the disparity between their online lives versus their offline lives. But this isn’t the only challenge related to video games, and neither is it solely this demographic that struggles with negative issues related to gaming. Over time, gaming habits for some players may start becoming problematic in other ways as well. When does it become unhealthy? 

As online gaming becomes increasingly enticing, it's up to each individual to practice self-awareness and develop what TogetherWell member and therapist, Mark Edwards, calls the "psychological muscle" to build controls around certain impulsive behaviors. If you notice that gaming behaviors are impacting your daily activities, your work, or your relationships, getting educated about this topic or seeking professional support may be helpful. 

Mark Edwards is a psychotherapist in private practice, a clinical supervisor and an adjunct member of the Master's in counseling program at Sonoma State University. He's also a licensed marriage and family therapist and resides in San Rafael, California. As a professor, he teaches aspects of psychotherapy and counseling at the graduate and postgraduate levels and leads community seminars for parents and employees. He provides psychotherapy for children, teens, adults, and families. One of his areas of focus is online life, which includes online gaming. 

Reference

https://thedecisionlab.com/thinkers/neuroscience/donald-hebb

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6212519/

https://neuroquotient.com/en/pshychology-and-neuroscience-hebb-principle-rule/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/07/gaming-pandemic-lockdowns-pwc-growth/

Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2022-2026 (pwc.com)

Who plays video games? Younger men, but many others too | Pew Research Center

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