Poster (Scientific congresses, symposiums and conference proceedings)
Play the grief away – Positive effects of playing a meaningful video game
WAGENER, Gary Lee; Elisabeth, Holl; SCHABLOWSKI, Saskia et al.
2023MediaPsych 2023 - 13th Conference of the Media Psychology Division (DGPs)
Peer reviewed
 

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Keywords :
video games; heart rate variability; mood improvement; depression; mental health
Abstract :
[en] Video games have become an integral part of society and have shown to have positive effects on mood (Russoniello et al., 2009), emotions and emotion regulation (Villani et al., 2018), depressive symptoms (Kowal et al., 2021), and general well-being (Granic et al., 2014). Also, prior research has shown potential positive effects on mood improvement for casual video games (e.g., Rieger et al., 2015; Russoniello et al., 2009). Therefore, the current lab study was conducted to test the effects on people’s affective state in the context of a meaningful video game (Gris) that deals with self-growth and healing after a traumatic event. It was hypothesized that playing the game leads to both mood improvement (i.e., reduced negative affect and increased positive affect in the pre-post PANAS [Watson et al., 1988]) as well as increased parasympathetic activity that indicates greater physiological relaxation (i.e., increased heart rate variability – HRV). Due to its immersive nature and its strong emotional themes, it was furthermore hypothesized that the extent of players’ reported pre-test depressive symptoms moderate the positive effects on mood (García Catalán et al., 2021; Vasilikaris, 2022). During the experiment, participants (N = 64) provided demographic information and answered their current affective state via PANAS before playing Gris for 20 minutes. Right after gameplay, participants rated the PANAS items again. HRV (indices: the root mean square of successive differences, high-frequency power [RMSSD], and the ratio between low-frequency [LF/HF] and high-frequency power [HF]) was assessed pre, during, and after gameplay. The results of the current study will be presented at the conference. The findings not only extend the general evidence base on the potentially beneficial role of video games and human-computer interaction, but in particular may illustrate the positive effects of meaningful video games on mental health and well-being.
Disciplines :
Social & behavioral sciences, psychology: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
WAGENER, Gary Lee  ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) > Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences (DBCS) > Health and Behaviour
Elisabeth, Holl
SCHABLOWSKI, Saskia ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences > Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences > Team André MELZER
Tascha, Fairon
MELZER, André ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) > Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences (DBCS) > Health and Behaviour
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Play the grief away – Positive effects of playing a meaningful video game
Publication date :
September 2023
Event name :
MediaPsych 2023 - 13th Conference of the Media Psychology Division (DGPs)
Event organizer :
André Melzer
Event place :
Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Event date :
from 6 to 8 Septemebr 2023
Audience :
International
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Available on ORBilu :
since 02 July 2024

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