How Video Games Are Linked to Happiness in Adults

Happiness is something that a working adult in today’s society hardly has the time to contemplate on; yet ignoring it can lead to chronic depression, irritability, frustration, mental tiredness, and a whole lot of other psychological problems.

In a study conducted by the North Carolina State University, it was found that senior citizens who actively play games on a daily basis are much happier and mentally aware than the ones who don’t play at all. In fact, this does not only apply to senior citizens, but adults of all age groups in general.  Let’s now try and understand how video games, which were at one time considered to be meant for children only, are so effective in making even adults cheerful.

Video Games Stimulate the Brain

It doesn’t matter what your age is, most functional human beings are intrigued by something that challenges them and makes them think. Considering that video games provide both entertainment value and stimulate the brain at the same time, it’s easy to understand why mature gamers who play games frequently, feel more content. Studies have shown that playing games can even lead to a more active brain in the long run.

It Can Be a Rewarding Experience

In general, all video games provide a rewarding experience. Playing a few bouts of the best slot games and winning can not only be fulfilling to the mind, but the wallet as well. People can go online and compete in multiplayer shooters like Counter Strike or Battlefield to test their virtual prowess against other human players, or they can gruel it out with the AI in single player mode. Many casual gamers find it rewarding by simply progressing and powering up through the many levels of a casual game like Candy Crush or Angry Birds, which doesn’t ask for too much investment in terms of brain power and time.

They Provide a Welcome Break

Stress is the main reason as to why there are so many unhappy people walking around out there and video games provide a break from that stress. It might not always be possible to go out for a game of basketball or football after a busy day, but picking up the controller and immersing yourself in a virtual world from the comfort of your couch is much more feasible. Video games help you to forget your stress and relax, albeit for a few hours. It can also be the break that someone needs before getting back into the struggles of the real world.

Bonding

Children and teenagers can be hard to bond with, but a parent who plays games himself/herself can treat gaming sessions as an activity which they do together as a family. This can lead to better parent-child relationships and happiness for both parties. If your spouse is also into video games, then the potential joy that can be had from playing together is immense, especially in this day and age of technology.

The truth is that we all have a child inside us who had to be locked away as we grew up into adults. Games unleash that child within us, and that’s largely the reason why even adults find happiness and contentment from playing video games.