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Updated: Sep 29, 2025
14:02
Measuring Engagement of Spectators of Social Digital Games
Published on: July 3, 2021
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Social video gaming and well-being.
Nicholas David Bowman1, Diana Rieger2, Jih-Hsuan Tammy Lin3
1Texas Tech University, USA; Taiwan Institute for Governance and Communication Research, Taiwan.
Current Opinion in Psychology
|March 21, 2022
Summary
Video games are social activities that boost well-being. This review explores social play, psychological recovery through gaming, and emerging technologies, highlighting research gaps in social gaming and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Sociology
Background:
- Video games are often perceived as isolating.
- Technological advancements and social acceptance have increased social gameplay.
- Existing research shows gaming's social dynamics and well-being benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on social gaming and psychological well-being.
- To explore social play, psychological recovery, and emerging technologies in gaming.
- To identify research gaps and suggest future directions for social gaming scholarship.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of social gaming and well-being research.
- Analysis of social play, psychological recovery, and technology-mediated gaming.
- Identification of deficiencies in current research.
Main Results:
- Social gaming positively impacts psychological well-being.
- Gaming facilitates both short-term psychological recovery and long-term resilience.
- Emerging technologies like game streaming and VR/AR enhance social connections through gaming.
Conclusions:
- Social gaming is a significant contributor to well-being.
- Further research is needed to integrate social dynamics and well-being in gaming studies.
- Future research should focus on emerging technologies and their impact on social well-being in gaming environments.
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