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Consequences of Play: A Systematic Review of the Effects of Online Gaming

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Abstract

Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) have received considerable attention in news headlines describing gamers who have died while engaging in excessive play. However, more common physical and psychosocial effects attributed to online video gaming are social isolation, increased aggression, and negative academic and occupational consequences. In consideration of the bias in reporting negative consequences of video gaming, a systematic review was conducted to evaluate the evidence of the effects of MMOGs on those who play them. In the sixteen studies that met the inclusion criteria, analysis revealed that only those players who were classified as “addicted” or engaged in “problematic game play” experienced significant negative consequences, with many gamers finding positive aspects to video gaming such as enjoyment, feelings of achievement, friendship, and a sense of community. However, significant limitations in the studies point to the need for further research so that appropriate treatments and interventions can be developed for problematic game play.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Brennan MacCallum Room 446, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Victoria Anne Sublette & Barbara Mullan

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  1. Victoria Anne Sublette
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  2. Barbara Mullan
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Correspondence to Barbara Mullan.

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Sublette, V.A., Mullan, B. Consequences of Play: A Systematic Review of the Effects of Online Gaming. Int J Ment Health Addiction 10, 3–23 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-010-9304-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-010-9304-3

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