Despite being associated with psychiatric disorders, escapism can, depending on the context, stimulate confidence, determination and a sense of belonging in virtual communities, as well as reduce loneliness.
AGÊNCIA FAPESP – The popularity of digital games in Brazil is undeniable: the country has entered the list of ten largest markets in the world AND the number of players already exceeds 100 million – According to a recent survey, almost two thirds of the population say they gamble. Electronic games are also being used more and more frequently in neurological and cognitive treatments and even to improve physical health. On the other hand, there is growing concern about its physical impacts and mentalespecially children and young people.
A review of studies conducted by researchers from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo (HC-USP) and the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (PUC-Campinas) shows that one of the main reasons why people seek out virtual games is the evasion (attempt to escape from real life into an imaginary world) – habit linked to psychological, emotional and mental health problems, also observed in cases of addiction to alcohol, pornography and social media. The findings were recently published in a special gaming edition of the magazine Frontiers in psychiatry.
Mapping 36 scientific studies from countries such as Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Croatia, Spain, United States, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan, selected from Scopus databases and PubMed data, scientists observed an association between avoidance and narcissism (personality disorder characterized by a feeling of grandiosity), as well as the lack of effective cognitive and behavioral strategies to cope with internal and external demands, the development of Internet gaming disorder (TJI), loneliness and difficulty in emotional regulation .
“Electronic games they are not exclusively an act of escape, but a form of entertainment“, says Lucas Murrins Marques, FAPESP postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Imrea) of the Faculty of Medicine (FMUSP) and first author of the study. “The positive or negative nature of the practice depends on factors such as the cultural context.”
Furthermore, evasion could function as a strategy emotional regulation diverting the player’s attention from emotionally intense situations and promoting trust, determination, sense of belonging and agency in virtual communities, as well as mitigating loneliness in anxious people.
“One of the articles analyzed in the magazine was actually about people who played to escape the reality of unemployment and managed to reach a state of self-conclusion – going through phases, they experienced an increase in self-esteem and well-being,” says Marchese.
Other benefits
Another article written by the researcher, published in a special edition of the journal Frontiers of public healthfocused on the impact of “exergames” (games that incorporate physical activity) also on emotional health.
“It is already widely publicized that physical activity through games promotes health benefits, like any other sport, especially due to the feeling of pleasure and challenge it provides and, therefore, has been used as a tool to promote health in patients suffering from cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental health needs and covid-19?,” says Marques. “But now we observe that there is also sufficient scientific basis to confirm its role in increasing positive emotions.”
Analysis of 16 articles in the same databases shows that exergames positively influence happiness, anxiety, depressive symptoms, mental health-related quality of life, self-esteem, self-efficacy, behavioral control, vitality and relaxation mainly by releasing endorphins and decreasing cortisol (stress hormone) levels in the body.
Public health
According to the researchers involved in the studies, Gamification is a topic with a strong impact on public health. When played as a form of escape, electronic games have the potential to negatively affect the mental health of a significant portion of the population. On the other hand, with the right balance, there are important potentials to explore.
“In terms of public health, it means the possibility of expanding the practice of physical activity – and its benefits – without the need to leave home, with all the difficulties that this entails for patients in treatment”, says Victor Otani, coordinator of the general psychiatry sector of the Santa Casa de São Paulo and editor of the special edition of Frontiers of public health.
“Although there is still some resistance from more conservative academics, future research should explore and confirm these impacts more fully through experimental investigations.”
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
