Gaming: 4 side effects of playing video games for long hours - Croma Unboxed (2024)

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Gaming: 4 side effects of playing video games for long hours - Croma Unboxed? ›

Weight gain, muscle loss, painful joints, and bad posture are typical examples. Sitting in the same position all day long on a regular basis can have other detrimental effects on your physical health, such as chronic headaches and neck and back issues.

Excessive video game use can lead to the brain being revved up in a constant state of hyperarousal. Hyperarousal looks different for each person. It can include difficulties with paying attention, managing emotions, controlling impulses, following directions and tolerating frustration.

“Consequences of video game addiction can showcase in a number of ways, including wrist, neck and elbow pain, skin blisters, calluses and sleep disorders. Long-term addiction could lead to obesity, weakness or numbness in the hands (peripheral neuropathy) and even blood clots,” Dr.

Hours of gaming daily often result in less sleep, especially if you play later at night or with gamer friends from different time zones. It's easy to play “just one more game,” which results in “just one less hour of sleep.” Excessive gaming can lead to poor sleep hygiene and other adverse physical health effects.

There is no set time limit for how long it is safe for adults to engage in video games. But, Jean Twenge, a psychology professor and researcher at San Diego State University, claims that “one to two hours a day is the safe limit for teens.”

Playing video games for three or more hours in one session was associated with higher odds of negative physical symptoms (e.g., overall physical problems, OR = 2.80 [95% CI: 1.52–5.16, p < 0.001 and back or neck pain, OR = 2.19 [95% CI: 1.28–3.74], p < 0.01).

As just a few examples, playing certain video games can increase the volume as well as the activity in small regions in many parts of the brain (Figure 1) [2]. However, some research has also found that playing video games can decrease activity in some of these areas, like the frontal lobe.

This totals to about 18 hours per week.

15-20 hours every week is starting to overplay, and more than 21 hours every week(3hrs every day) is the type of gameplay that will start to have a detrimental impact on wellbeing according to this Oxford study. However that in itself isn't a gaming disorder.

You're going to miss out on things if you're playing for multiple hours every single day. It might be exercise, it might be socializing, it might be homework. If you want to back up each day of gaming with another day of gaming, it looks a lot less like a hobby and more like a habit.

Video game addiction has been found to be related to personality traits such as low self-esteem, low self-efficacy, attention problems, impulsivity, aggression, anxiety, and depression.

How video games affect mental health? ›

Video games can act as distractions from pain and psychological trauma. Video games can also help people who are dealing with mental disorders like anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

But they can also cause health problems on the inside and out. This can include anything from poor sleep to low self-esteem. Too much time in front of the screen can also harm vision. Excess time spent playing video games can also cause joint and muscle pain.

Dr. Bilge-Johnson recommends limiting video games to 1 hour a day during the week and up to 2 hours on weekends.

Studies of children exposed to violent media have shown that they may become numb to violence, imitate the violence, and show more aggressive behavior. Younger children and those with emotional, behavioral or learning problems may be more influenced by violent images.

It's true that some studies have shown certain video games can improve hand–eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and the mind's ability to process information. But too much video game playing may cause problems. It's hard to get enough active play and exercise if you're always inside playing video games.

For kids over the age of 6, the American Academy of Pediatrics says no more than 60 minutes on school days and 2 hours on non-school days. Kids under 6 should spend closer to 30 minutes. It's also appropriate for parents to know and approve the games their kids are playing. Avoid any games with graphic violence or sex.

you may ask. Well, if you play 7–8 hours of video games a day, YES it is particularly harmful, you will have to take time out of other aspects of your life, (school, sleep) to accomodate your gaming time. You will also not be getting any exercise and watching a screen all day without breaks is potentially harmful.

It's widely recommended that excessive gaming should be limited to 2 hours per day. This is because prolonged gaming can have negative impacts on physical and mental health, including poor posture, eye strain, and disrupted sleep patterns, as well as social skills and relationships.