Nocturnal computer games and depressive symptoms are related

The date, when played on the computer is important for mental health as the playing time. This is the conclusion of a study by the University of Basel. The researchers were able to prove that whoever night between 22 and 6 am regularly playing online computer games, has an increased risk of depressive symptoms - regardless of how many hours per week total played. The research results are published online in the journal "Personality and Individual Differences".

It is known from previous studies that excessive computer gaming can be a risk factor for mental health. In the present study, researchers from the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Basel are now providing indications of possible underlying mechanisms.

The study shows that gamers who gamble between 5pm and 7am 22-6 days a week have a significantly higher risk of depressive symptoms than those who gamble less frequently at night. In contrast, frequent online computer games during the day were not statistically significantly associated with depressive symptoms. The exact time when the game was played was more important than the total playing time (number of hours per week). Overall, depressive symptoms were no more common on average in the sample of online computer gamers than in comparison samples from other studies.

The connection between regular online computer games at night and depressive symptoms can possibly be explained by the shift in the individual sleep-wake cycle, which in turn leads to greater daytime sleepiness. It is also possible that computer gamers who suffer from depressive symptoms only become active late in the evening or at night and sit in front of the computer because of their problems.

For the study, over 600 players of the online role-playing game "World of Warcraft" were questioned, which is played by over 11 million people worldwide and is known for its high potential for addiction. The surveyed gamers were between 13 and 30 years old and played on the computer an average of 22 hours per week.

original article

Lemola S, Brand S, Vogler N, Perkinson-Gloor N, Allemand M & Grob A (2011). Habitual computer game playing at night is related to depressive symptoms. Personality and Individual Differences, Apr 18, 2011. Doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.024.

Source: Basel [University]