The Benefits of Open-World Games for Mental Well-Being
Author Information
Author(s): Ailin Anto, Arunima Basu, Rania Selim, Thomas Foscht, Andreas Benedikt Eisingerich
Primary Institution: Imperial College London
Hypothesis
How does cognitive escapism provided by open-world games affect relaxation and well-being among postgraduate students?
Conclusion
Open-world games significantly improve relaxation and well-being among postgraduate students by providing cognitive escapism.
Supporting Evidence
- Players reported that open-world games allowed them to disconnect from real-world stressors.
- Qualitative interviews indicated that players felt more relaxed and rejuvenated after playing.
- Quantitative analysis showed a significant positive effect of cognitive escapism on relaxation.
- Relaxation was found to mediate the relationship between cognitive escapism and well-being.
Takeaway
Playing open-world games helps students feel less stressed and happier by allowing them to escape from their daily worries.
Methodology
The study used a mixed methods approach, including a survey of 609 players and 32 qualitative interviews.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from self-reported data and the convenience sampling method.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data and did not measure long-term effects of gameplay.
Participant Demographics
Postgraduate students, mean age 23.19 years, with a gender distribution of 47% female and 50% male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.0695-0.2331
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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