Habitual Videogame Playing Does Not Compromise Subjective Sleep Quality and Is Associated with Improved Daytime Functioning
Research on the effects of videogames (VGs) on health has produced mixed results. Here, we assess the relationships of VG playing with sleep; chronotype; sleepiness; and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress; and how they are modulated by the level of exposure to VGs. Four hundred-and two adult...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/2/279 |
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| author | Oreste De Rosa Francesca Conte Paolo D’Onofrio Serena Malloggi Anna Alterio Marissa Lynn Rescott Fiorenza Giganti Gianluca Ficca |
| author_facet | Oreste De Rosa Francesca Conte Paolo D’Onofrio Serena Malloggi Anna Alterio Marissa Lynn Rescott Fiorenza Giganti Gianluca Ficca |
| author_sort | Oreste De Rosa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research on the effects of videogames (VGs) on health has produced mixed results. Here, we assess the relationships of VG playing with sleep; chronotype; sleepiness; and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress; and how they are modulated by the level of exposure to VGs. Four hundred-and two adult participants (age = 26.2 ± 7.84; 227 F) completed an online survey including questions on VG use and a set of standardized questionnaires. The sample was divided into three groups: habitual gamers (HGs, 42.2%), nonhabitual gamers (NHGs, 36.5%), and non-gamers (NGs, 21.3%). No between-group differences emerged in sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) or Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index measures except the sleep disturbances subscore, which was higher in NHGs. HGs showed delayed bed- and risetimes and higher eveningness (reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire). HGs and NHGs showed higher depression subscores (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale) but remained in the subclinical range. Moreover, hours/week of VG playing predicted delayed sleep timing, lower daytime dysfunction, and lower sleepiness. Our data suggest that VG playing does not necessarily compromise sleep quality and may even benefit daytime functioning, underlining the need to reconsider the relationships between VG use and health by taking into account possible modulating factors such as habitual VG exposure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:04:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63005c0e4b65432a911226fc0d04ac7a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:04:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-63005c0e4b65432a911226fc0d04ac7a2023-11-16T19:28:46ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252023-02-0113227910.3390/brainsci13020279Habitual Videogame Playing Does Not Compromise Subjective Sleep Quality and Is Associated with Improved Daytime FunctioningOreste De Rosa0Francesca Conte1Paolo D’Onofrio2Serena Malloggi3Anna Alterio4Marissa Lynn Rescott5Fiorenza Giganti6Gianluca Ficca7Department of Psychology, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Stockholm, 114 19 Stockholm, SwedenDepartment NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, ItalyDepartment NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, ItalyResearch on the effects of videogames (VGs) on health has produced mixed results. Here, we assess the relationships of VG playing with sleep; chronotype; sleepiness; and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress; and how they are modulated by the level of exposure to VGs. Four hundred-and two adult participants (age = 26.2 ± 7.84; 227 F) completed an online survey including questions on VG use and a set of standardized questionnaires. The sample was divided into three groups: habitual gamers (HGs, 42.2%), nonhabitual gamers (NHGs, 36.5%), and non-gamers (NGs, 21.3%). No between-group differences emerged in sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) or Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index measures except the sleep disturbances subscore, which was higher in NHGs. HGs showed delayed bed- and risetimes and higher eveningness (reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire). HGs and NHGs showed higher depression subscores (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale) but remained in the subclinical range. Moreover, hours/week of VG playing predicted delayed sleep timing, lower daytime dysfunction, and lower sleepiness. Our data suggest that VG playing does not necessarily compromise sleep quality and may even benefit daytime functioning, underlining the need to reconsider the relationships between VG use and health by taking into account possible modulating factors such as habitual VG exposure.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/2/279videogamessleepsleep qualitysleepinesscircadian preferencedepression |
| spellingShingle | Oreste De Rosa Francesca Conte Paolo D’Onofrio Serena Malloggi Anna Alterio Marissa Lynn Rescott Fiorenza Giganti Gianluca Ficca Habitual Videogame Playing Does Not Compromise Subjective Sleep Quality and Is Associated with Improved Daytime Functioning Brain Sciences videogames sleep sleep quality sleepiness circadian preference depression |
| title | Habitual Videogame Playing Does Not Compromise Subjective Sleep Quality and Is Associated with Improved Daytime Functioning |
| title_full | Habitual Videogame Playing Does Not Compromise Subjective Sleep Quality and Is Associated with Improved Daytime Functioning |
| title_fullStr | Habitual Videogame Playing Does Not Compromise Subjective Sleep Quality and Is Associated with Improved Daytime Functioning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Habitual Videogame Playing Does Not Compromise Subjective Sleep Quality and Is Associated with Improved Daytime Functioning |
| title_short | Habitual Videogame Playing Does Not Compromise Subjective Sleep Quality and Is Associated with Improved Daytime Functioning |
| title_sort | habitual videogame playing does not compromise subjective sleep quality and is associated with improved daytime functioning |
| topic | videogames sleep sleep quality sleepiness circadian preference depression |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/2/279 |
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