ORLANDO, Fla. – Monday on “Breakfast With Bridgett,” a licensed counselor talked about the pros and cons of video games when it comes to your mental health.
Recent studies during the pandemic found benefits of connection, stress relief, problem solving and more through video game use.
Licensed counselor Shantala Boss said the benefits are legitimate, but to also keep in mind several safeguards to protect against the cons of gaming.
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“During the pandemic, people were locked in their houses, they weren’t able to connect with other people,” Boss said. “So we really realized what a stress reliever video games can be. How helpful they can be in fostering that connection, teamwork, and communication. When you are playing with other people, video games aren’t all bad, they can be a very positive thing. The key is doing in moderation because they can be addictive, so when you say things like oh, sleeping schedule and eating, that’s one of the things that happens. Kids and even adults will forget their daily function activities they need to do because they get so wrapped up in these games, so that’s why they get a bad rap. When they are good games, very effective in building creativity, stress relief, connecting with others, lot of positives.”
Boss also said to pay close attention to game content, age appropriateness and ratings when it comes to which video games you allow your kids to play.