By Dean on 9 Jan, 2012: published about 4 years ago

Are You An Excessive Gamer? Apparently You’re More Depressed

Early results from an Australian study reveals that gamers who play more excessively than others tend to show higher levels of depression and anxiety. The study is currently being conducted by Daniel Loton at the Victoria University.

Accord to Loton, the study monitors “academic results, relationships and physical and mental health” between two different groups of gamers — those who play more than 21 hours per week and those who play less than 21 hours per week.

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Name: Dean Oberholzer
Location: Cape Town
Position: Editor

Dean has published 2896 posts. Read all of Dean's posts.

Anonymous
21 hours? ahahaha fuck I must be epicly depressed
Anonymous
This study pushed me to 30% more depressed. Also, let’s not forgot that all Australians are descended from convicts.
Jake
15% more anxious? How do you measure anxiety so accurately? What unit do you use? Axons? Axioms? If I had a bow-tie it would be spinning around on my neck from all the bad puns.
The thing that pissed me off is that people who are depressed USE games to help them not be depressed. The games aren’t causing it, they’re helping it. I mean seriously, its like saying people using powerful cholesterol medicine tend to have higher cholesterol than those who don’t. >____<
I want them to do a study where they compare depressed gamers to depressed muggles. Guaranteed, the gamers are managing to cope in far more stressful situations than the muggles who have lower stress levels but handle their stress worse.
I'm not saying gaming is only for stressed out people, but it makes sense that depressed and emotionally vulnerable people use something joyous to help them cope.
In the old days, people just bottled up their depression and rage until it came flowing out in an orgy of drugs, rape and any combinations of suicide, homicide, matricide, patricide, or regicide. Gaming seems like a better alternative.
The bullet point of my presentation being this: Mr Scieeeeeeentist, go #$%& yourself.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1310122790 Bracken FraggedYou Lee-Rudolph
Yeah, I think not O_o
I could play easily 42+ hours a week during the holidays, I am anything but depressed.
I’m irritable, angry, maybe even impulsive, but not depressed or anxious.
Treble
Ok then I must be the most depressed person to live on the planet if that’s the case
Kirky_46
I think it’s depressed people gaming as opposed to gaming making people depressed?
- http://egamer.co.za/ Azhar Amien
  I think it’s exactly that.
  I mean really, 21 hours a week? Shit’s weak :P I must have done that in the last three days.
  Yet some people would say I’m too happy to be alive. And anxiety? Meh, humans ;D/
  On a more serious note, studies like these always have no basis or logic. I mean, any depressed or troubled person will find an escapism, whether it be games, movies or whatever.
  That doesn’t mean playing games makes people depressed or depressed people flock to games. It just means they’re depressed.
- Treble
  It’s funny I mean gaming is getting blamed on a lot of things it makes you a murderer, you never go out and sit in a dark room all day long and now depressed its becoming annoying to read the shit they blame gaming on these days
sage of the six paths
21 hours a week is minimal. How the hell can you measure the affects of gaming in any capacity, how can these people claim to be scientists?!
http://www.facebook.com/brendon.bosch Brendon Bosch
LOL Australia dont kow what they doing. Games are to blame for violence and now depression ans anxiety. What a silly bunch they are
http://www.facebook.com/brendon.bosch Brendon Bosch
i had a really depressing holiday when i finished BF3, Dead Island and ACR. With extensive hours of Dark Souls and online play. I think i need some help. Australia what would we do without you. Oh YEAH we would be able to play games we want
FoXTiCitY
Well with the type of games coming out lately, I would say any gamer gets depressed. Buy a game of R500 and finish it within 5 hours, old days like Diablo 1 and half life 1, it took us days to finish it!
http://www.facebook.com/nadine.franzsen Nadine Franzsen
Bullsh!t !!!