Gaming "supposedly" linked to depression?

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/p...-they-/1346074

It's kind of contradictory when you consider that a few months ago, there was another article on yahoo that said that not all gamers' are "couch potatoes".

To be completely honest, too much of anything is a bad thing, including video-games and countless other things. I'm sure if you used anything on a routine basis to forget/escape real-life issues and responibilities, it could be linked to depression.

Then again this is yahoo we're talking about so maybe one shouldn't take the article too seriously.

If you read the whole thing, they aren't saying that games cause depression, but that depressed people turn to video games as a way of forgetting about their problems. :3

Originally Posted by Cody

If you read the whole thing, they aren't saying that games cause depression, but that depressed people turn to video games as a way of forgetting about their problems. :3

I did, but I somehow get this notion that it's making gaming look like it has the upper hand in starting depression, mainly from saying the average gamer is 35, overweight and depressed.

But yes, maybe the title of the thread is a little misleading, lol. It probably didn't help when I said the writer was finding something to blame depression on :p

I don't think gaming makes u depressed, it's rather the other way around.

Originally Posted by Cody

If you read the whole thing, they aren't saying that games cause depression, but that depressed people turn to video games as a way of forgetting about their problems. :3

I was going to say, even before I read the article, that this was probably the cause of the link.


Makes sense, really.

Video games are a form of escapism, after all, so that link doesn't really surprise me.

Like Astrael said, video games are a form of escapism, and, if you look around, you might be able to find articles on how reading books and playing sports are also connected to depression.

Nevertheless, it's still better than turning to drugs , alcohol, or pills which many people who are depressed often do.

Oh definitley without a doubt. Despite what Jack Thompson says, games can't ruin your ife, while drugs and alcohol certainly can.

Depression hinders development of social skills. People who lack social skills seek isolated activities, and depressed people seek to escape from the world.

Video games do not CAUSE depression; they are a byproduct of a depressed lifestyle. I know lots of people who play video games and are perfectly content with their existence. Goddamn ♥♥♥♥ing media.

Stupid article. It's kind of true though. I know lots of depressed gamers!!!

I was gonna say, a medium in which Paper Mario exists simply cannot be held responsible in any way for depression.

Paper Mario? Look at freaking Kirby.The happist game on the face of the planet.