Psychological effects of online gaming social networks

Nowadays quite a few people play video games, and a considerable part of them do so on online platforms that allow them to play with distant players and that constitute communities of game partners. Does the use of these social networks for online games bring psychological benefits? Or does it tend to be detrimental? Recent research has delved into the issue.

A team made up of, among others, Tyler Prochnow and Megan Patterson, both from Texas A&M University in the United States, analyzed communications and social support in an online gaming platform and community.

The study authors examined the social structure of the community, looking at how social support, sense of community, and symptoms of depression affected social connections over time.

The research team specifically analyzed a social network made up of members of a platform dedicated to an online virtual football video game, surveying members at the beginning and end of the game season. In the video game, players embody the coach of a soccer team and compete against other members of the site for 10 months. Members can communicate directly with each other through the site’s forums, chat, and direct messaging.

There were 37 members who responded to the survey at the beginning and 40 at the end, with 30 members represented in both samples. The researchers collected data on age, gender, and other demographic factors, as well as the number of hours members spent on the platform and playing other video games. Members also responded to a survey about depressive symptoms and their perceived ability to talk to someone about their problems. The researchers also asked the members to list the people in real life and people on the video game platform with whom they talked about important life issues.

Research has found correlations between the strength of social networks and depression, with stronger social networks offering people more opportunities to find support. Informal social networks, such as those woven around an online video game, could play a crucial role in coping with the stress of everyday life and also in seeking formal help to combat anxiety or depression. This, together with the research results according to which people turn to social networks for help in difficult times, increases the relevance of this study.

The authors of the study have investigated the communication and social support between members of the community of an online video game. (Image: Amazings/NCYT)

The study found that social support, a sense of belonging to the same community, and depressive symptoms influenced changes in the social structure of the game over time. The researchers found that people who reported having more social support online, and those who reported less support in real life, were more likely to contact other members. They also found that communication bonds were more likely to form when the communications were reciprocal or transitive (involving three groups of people). Additionally, players who spent more time on the platform were more likely to have communication links.

The researchers also found that members who reported a greater sense of community and who valued being part of that community were more likely to establish communication links over time. In addition to being more likely to connect, these members may be more comfortable with conversations about real-life topics. This points to the importance of a sense of community in online gaming platforms.

The study found that, although members with less social support in everyday life were more likely to establish communication links, those who reported greater depressive symptoms were less likely to attempt to establish communication links over time. This could indicate a need for more formal support for members experiencing depressive symptoms, including mental health care services.

The study is titled “Online Gaming Network Communication Dynamics, Depressive Symptoms, and Social Support: A Longitudinal Network Analysis”. And it has been published in the academic journal Sociological Focus. (Fountain: NCYT by Amazings)