cognitive development; lifespan development; motor skills; socio-emotional development; video game; Cultural Studies; Communication; Applied Psychology; Psychology (miscellaneous)
Abstract :
[en] This umbrella review synthesizes research on the multifaceted effects of video games on cognitive, motor, socioemotional, and health-related development across the lifespan. Drawing on systematic reviews published between 2004 and 2023, this study analyzed findings from 27 reviews, encompassing 131,979 participants from 2 to 86 years old. While concerns about excessive gaming and its potential risks have dominated research and public discourse, a growing body of literature highlights the potential benefits of video gaming. The findings indicate that video games can enhance visuospatial skills, executive functioning, and problem-solving abilities, particularly when engagement is moderate and game genres involve strategic or cooperative elements. Motor benefits, especially in older adults, include improvements in balance, coordination, and reaction time, often facilitated by exergaming. Emotional and social outcomes are more complex: while cooperative and prosocial games foster emotional regulation and social bonding, excessive or escapist gaming can contribute to social withdrawal. Health-related benefits include increased physical activity through exergaming and potential stress reduction. These findings underscore the need to move beyond a binary “good or bad” framing of video games and instead consider the contextual factors that shape their impact. Future research should emphasize longitudinal designs and the mechanisms underlying gaming’s diverse effects.
Disciplines :
Social & behavioral sciences, psychology: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
Rebecchi, Kevin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Traverses ; DIPHE Research Unit (Development, Individuals, Processes, Disability, Education), University Lumière Lyon 2, France
Nguyen, Chloé; DIPHE Research Unit (Development, Individuals, Processes, Disability, Education), University Lumière Lyon 2, France
Hallez, Quentin; DIPHE Research Unit (Development, Individuals, Processes, Disability, Education), University Lumière Lyon 2, France
Galiano, Anna Rita; DIPHE Research Unit (Development, Individuals, Processes, Disability, Education), University Lumière Lyon 2, France
Language :
English
Title :
The Relationships Between Video Games and Cognitive, Motor, Emotional, and Social Development Across the Lifespan: An Umbrella Review
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