Exploring the multifaceted learning benefits of video gaming among female university students in Saudi Arabia

The increasing prevalence of video gaming has transformed leisure activities worldwide, especially among university students. In Saudi Arabia, 67% of the population engages in gaming, raising questions about its impact on cognitive, emotional, social, and psychomotor skills. This study explores the transferable skills developed through video gaming, focusing on female university students in Saudi Arabia. An exploratory qualitative approach was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 37 female university students aged 18 to 25, each with at least one year of gaming experience. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in the data. The study revealed that video games enhance cognitive skills, including problem-solving, strategic thinking, and time management. Emotional regulation, teamwork, communication, and leadership were also developed through gaming. Psychomotor skills, such as hand-eye coordination and reflexes, were notably improved, and participants reported the transfer of these skills to academic tasks. Video gaming supports the development of diverse cognitive, emotional, social, and psychomotor skills, suggesting its potential for integration into academic environments to enhance learning and personal growth.