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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by Tort Defenders’ writers and staff and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney.
Video games have steadily increased in popularity over time. According to some estimates, there were approximately 2.58 billion gamers in 2024, and there are expected to be 3.02 billion by 2029.
Though playing video games is often an innocent hobby, it can sometimes have negative consequences. These can include everything from self-imposed isolation to mental health issues such as addiction and depression.
People with existing mental health issues and various other risk factors may be at higher risk for such negative impacts. In many cases, multiple comorbid issues can arise. Further, according to some research, 89% of people with gaming addiction also have depression, indicating that there may be a connection between the two.
Understanding Gaming Addiction and Depression
Gaming addiction is a type of addiction where someone becomes increasingly reliant on playing video games, experiences diminishing returns related to satisfaction with gaming, and has withdrawal symptoms when they stop playing video games. Like any addiction, gaming addiction is caused by a cycle of dopamine release and the development of a tolerance.
Certain behaviors and actions may indicate that someone has a gaming addiction. Similar to other addictions, people may give up other activities they enjoy or stop spending time with loved ones in order to game. They may also try to hide how often or how much they’re gaming and other responsibilities — ranging from work and school to household chores and even personal hygiene — may start to fall by the wayside.
Gaming addiction, also known as gaming disorder, has been formally classified as a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization. Some studies estimate that between 1.7% and 10% of the U.S. population experience gaming addiction. As mentioned, there is a high rate of comorbidity between gaming addiction and depression.
Negative Impacts of Gaming on Mental Health
Gaming can result in a wide range of negative mental health effects beyond addiction and depression, including:
- Anxiety;
- Social phobia;
- Agoraphobia;
- Mood swings;
- Sleep disruptions;
- Low self-esteem;
- Lack of motivation for other activities;
- Poor self-sufficiency;
- Attention problems;
- Impulsiveness.
These impacts are more likely to arise in people who game excessively, don’t practice a mindful approach to screen time, or have existing mental health issues.
Gaming can also contribute to mental health issues such as depression by virtue of a sedentary lifestyle. Sedentary lifestyles can contribute to depression for several reasons, including a lack of exercise-induced serotonin, reduced time socializing, and vitamin D deficiencies from spending time indoors.
Benefits of Gaming for Individuals With Depression
That said, gaming can be used as a healthy outlet for people with depression when approached responsibly.
Like many hobbies and forms of entertainment, gaming can serve as a form of distraction or escapism and make people feel a sense of accomplishment. Many elements of video games can also benefit certain cognitive skills, as well as self-esteem and mood as the player focuses on gameplay and reaches goals.
Further, gaming can offer an opportunity to socialize and connect with others. Not only does it offer an additional platform for communication, but it can also make it easier to find and spend time with friends who live in different places.
Other areas of cognition that gaming can improve include:
- Problem solving: Games often involve solving a variety of problems and puzzles, such as memory problems, logic puzzles, and word games.
- Teamwork: Many games are cooperative and encourage strong teamwork to succeed.
- Reaction time: Many games are difficult to succeed at without a quick reaction time and can help increase reaction time through practice.
- Spatial awareness: In some times of games, you need to stay aware of your surroundings and react accordingly, improving your spatial awareness.
- Hand-eye coordination: Hand-eye coordination can be trained through gaming as you react to visual stimuli with hand motions.
- Motor skills: Traditional forms of gaming can improve motor skills by requiring quick precise movements of the hands and fingers, but more advanced gaming methods such as virtual reality gaming can require even more complex full-body movements.
You can maximize the benefits and minimize the negative effects of gaming by approaching it in a healthy and mindful way. Setting parameters yourself such as a maximum amount of play time per day or seeking the support of a counselor can be good ways to ensure your gaming habits remain healthy.
Seeking Help for Gaming Anxiety, Addiction, and Depression
There are options for support and treatment for people who are experiencing gaming addiction and gaming-related anxiety or depression. These options include home treatment, participation in support groups, use of various formal therapy options, and medical interventions. You can find these resources by searching online, talking to community or school counselors, or discussing options with your doctor.
Informal options are available too, such as making changes to your daily habits and finding informal support groups online. But more formal treatment options — such as cognitive behavioral therapy and medical intervention from your general practitioner — can be invaluable if you’re experiencing moderate to severe mental health issues related to gaming.
While generalized therapy and medical intervention for depression and anxiety can be beneficial for people who are experiencing these issues as a result of gaming, you may have improved outcomes if you seek out professionals who specialize in mental health issues related to gaming.
Legal Implications of Gaming Addiction and Depression
Lawsuits have been brought against gaming companies for damage to various plaintiffs’ well-being. So far, these lawsuits have been largely unsuccessful as it can be difficult to prove fault on the part of the companies. Such lawsuits may become more commonplace as gaming continues to experience widespread popularity. They will likely seek compensation for various health and financial impacts. Documentation of damages such as financial losses and emotional distress such as bank and medical records could be valuable resources for people seeking to take legal action.