Gaming & Mental Health: A Guide for Youth and Teen Players, Builders and Creators

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
A 2024 Pew survey of 1,453 U.S. teens aged 13-17 found 56% of teen gamers said gaming provided problem-solving skills, and 32% said it provided mental health benefits.See it on page 8
02
ESA 2024 figures cited in the guide show 74% of players game with others, and 83% of gaming parents play with their children.See it on page 6
03
The guide cites a 2024 NYU/UNICEF study finding that well-designed games positively affect children's autonomy, competence, creativity, and identity.See it on page 6
04
Citing Boston Children's Hospital's Digital Wellness Lab, the guide notes that some adolescents use gaming as a coping mechanism for loneliness.See it on page 4
05
The guide says warning signs matter when they represent a change from someone's usual behavior, since a person who prefers quieter activities may simply be doing what feels natural.See it on page 6
06
One strategy the guide recommends is taking breaks every 60-90 minutes.See it on page 8
07
The guide describes gaming as existing on a spectrum that runs from Healthy to Monitor to Concern.See it on page 5

Summary

The guide, "Gaming & Mental Health: A Guide for Youth and Teen Players, Builders, & Creators," carries Roblox branding and was written by Dr. Dan Reidenberg, Psy.D., founder of Safe Online Standards. It is aimed at young people who play, build and create games. It describes four phases players often move through: Discovery, Settling In, Build & Create, and Lead & Grow.

The guide cites 2024 Entertainment Software Association figures that 74% of players game with others and 83% of gaming parents play with their children. It also reports a 2024 Pew Research Center survey of 1,453 U.S. teens aged 13-17, in which 56% of teen gamers said gaming provided problem-solving skills and 32% said it provided mental health benefits.

Citing other research, the guide says a 2024 NYU/UNICEF study found well-designed games positively affect children's autonomy, competence, creativity and identity. It also cites Texas Tech University research finding that cooperative gameplay reduces aggression and increases prosocial behavior.

On concerns, the guide states that warning signs become meaningful when they represent a change from a person's usual behavior. It lists sleep disruption, mood changes, loss of control, avoidance, social withdrawal and preoccupation as signs to notice, and recommends breaks every 60-90 minutes as one strategy.