State of Play: The Ins and Outs of Healthy and Problematic Video Gaming (
The ubiquity of youth video gaming has raised concerns about children’s health and safety among parents, many of whom are uncertain about how they should monitor its use. Research indicates there are many factors at play when determining the effects of video games on children, making it challenging to answer the question: “Are games good or bad?” In this #AskTheExperts webinar, a panel of experts dove deeper, sharing the latest research and clinical insights to provide actionable tips for healthy gaming.
[0:00] Introduction
Kris Perry, MSW, Executive Director of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, introduces the webinar and panel moderator, Douglas Gentile, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Director of the Media Research Lab at Iowa State University.
Dr. Gentile briefly discusses decades of experience researching the various dimensions of video games, and reasons for its surrounding controversy. He sets the stage for the rest of the panel by discussing 5 dimensions of video games that can have varying effects on players. These five are the amount of time spent, the game content, structural aspects, contextual aspects, and mechanical aspects.
[08:34] Nick Ballou, PhD
Nick Ballou, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute, discusses how the player and environment co-determine gaming’s impact on children’s mental health. Ballou discusses 13 game, context, and player factors that can influence the relationship between games and mental health, and the challenge these present in current research to draw causal conclusions. He emphasizes that this complexity makes it challenging to give one size fits all advice.
[14:28] Kishonna Gray, PhD
Kishonna Gray, PhD, Associate Professor of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies and Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky, briefly discusses her ethnographic approach to studying video game play and dismantling myths surrounding video games. She introduces the idea of intergenerational play as a means to build relationships in the home. Gray also explains the harms of harassment campaigns and why some children may be spending long periods of time gaming.
[18:40] Adam Gazzaley, MD, PhD
Adam Gazzaley, MD, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology, and Psychiatry and the Founder and Executive Director of Neuroscape at UC San Francisco, delves into the neuroscience of video games. He discusses the critical element of the interactive experience and the role of experience-dependent plasticity. He also shares his research on intentional video game development and the potential for video games as a therapeutic treatment.
[23:08] Alok Kanojia, MD, MPH
Dr. Alok Kanojia, aka “Dr. K,” psychiatrist and President of Healthy Gamer, discusses the effects of gaming on brains in terms of addiction. He discusses the relationship between video game play and development of the emotion regulation system, and shares signs that someone has developed a problematic relationship with gaming. Dr. K provides tips on healthy gaming by sharing insights gleaned from his clinical experience and lived experience as a former problematic gamer.
[30:40] Q&A - Individual Differences
Gentile asks the panel to discuss the role of individual differences and if they can provide a better understanding of the nuances of video game effects. Panelists discuss the balance between population effects and individual effects, and specific individual or group differences that are critical to consider.
[38:16] Q&A - Boundaries & Monitoring
Panelists discuss how parents can establish boundaries that help achieve healthy gaming across development. Gentile summarizes the four main ways parents can monitor their children’s gameplay.
[50:24] Q&A - Neurodiversity
Dr. K discusses some unique considerations for neurodiverse youth when it comes to healthy gameplay. Gray shares some resources and communities that can support gaming youth with disabilities.
[55:12] Q&A - Comorbidity
Panelists discuss the challenges of comorbid mental health challenges and gaming addiction, including the different types of cases they have seen in research or clinical practice and how comorbidity influences approaches to care.
[01:07:45 ] Q&A - Improving Game Design
Drs. Ballou and Gazzaley examine the challenges for limiting “engaging” design as a primary goal for game developers, and highlight a few other problematic game design elements that should be a focus for future intentional design.
[01:16:44] Q&A - Warning Signs
Dr. Gentile and Dr. K share warning signs that parents can watch for if they are concerned about problematic gaming. They also emphasize the importance of being involved from the beginning of game play instead of waiting for problems to occur.
[01:20:17] Final Takeaways
Panelists share their final thoughts and considerations for the audience.
To learn more about Children and Screens, visit www.childrenandscreens.org