A little gaming 'helps children': Youngsters who play on a console for an hour a day 'are better behaved'

Children and teenagers who play on computer games for up to an hour a day are better behaved, according to new research.

The Oxford University study suggests that the influence of games such as Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation on children is “very small” when compared with more ‘enduring’ factors like schooling and wealth.

Researchers found that young people who indulged in a little video game-playing were associated with being better adjusted than those who had never played or those who were on video games for three hours or more.

The study found no positive or negative effects for young people who played ‘moderately’ between one to three hours a day.

However, the study, published in the journal Pediatrics, suggests that the influence of video games on children, for good or for ill, is very small when compared with more ‘enduring’ factors, such as whether the child is from a functioning family, their school relationships, and whether they are materially deprived.

Participants, aged 10 to 15, were asked how much time they typically spent on console-based or computer-based games. The same group also answered questions about how satisfied they were with their lives, their levels of hyperactivity and inattention; empathy; and how they got on with their peers.

The results suggest that three in four British children and teenagers play video games on a daily basis, and that those who spent more than half their daily free time playing electronic games were not as well adjusted.

The researchers say this could be because they miss out on other enriching activities and possibly expose themselves to inappropriate content designed for adults.

However, when compared to non-players and those who played very frequently, those who played video games for less than an hour - estimated to be less than one-third of their daily free time - were associated with the highest levels of sociability and were most likely to say they were satisfied with their lives.

                                      

 They also appeared to have fewer friendship and emotional problems, and reported less hyperactivity than the other groups.

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