The effects of PC gaming, including those that use different platforms like consoles, have been debated ever since I could remember. A lot of negative effects have been attributed to it, from failing grades to degrading mental health and even some horrific stories and events. However, science has given clarity to the true effects of PC gaming, whether if its good or bad for the youth.
The Popularity of PC Gaming
PC gaming has been around since the 1950s to the 1960s when engineers designed the first simple games for early computers. The first game that came out on a video display was created by MIT students in 1962, and it ran on a PDP-1 computer that was as big as a car. PC gaming had some highs and lows between that period and the video game crash of 1983, but that will change in the following decade.
The 1990s had the internet, which then paved the way for online gaming that was spearheaded by titles like StarCraft, Counter-Strike, and Quakeworld. There were options back then, but what got kids and adults hooked was the ability to play with other gamers in a different household or area. It took off from there, with swaths of kids filling internet cafes or piling in an internet-equipped home for nauseatingly sleepless gaming sessions with their buddies.
The hobby became an addiction for some, with a few notable individuals going as far as losing their lives due to sleep deprivation and malnutrition for the grind. Gaming suddenly became a virtual narcotic simply because it was a fun and easy escape from the harshness of the real world.
However, the results we gathered regarding the effects of PC gaming on academic performance point to one reason. The decline in grades or well-being cannot be fully attributed to PC gaming alone since the attitude towards it is a bigger factor. The hobby does have specific detrimental effects, but time spent or the frequency of playing causes more issues than the games themselves.
Evidence for the Effects of PC Gaming on Academic Performance
Here are some key factors that fuel the current trend as to how gaming will affect studies and grades in 2024:
Positive Effects of PC Gaming
Enhanced Learning Results – Gaming can be a good exercise for the brain so that it can expand your learning capacity. For example, students absorb lessons better when they are taught with educational games instead of the standard lecture and take notes combination (Yeşilbağ, Korkmaz, & Çakır, 2020).
Enhanced Cognitive Skills – Studies suggest that games enhance cognitive skills in math and science. One example is the improvements in visual-spatial abilities and mental rotation, which are great to have in subjects like geometry and design (Novak & Tassell, 2015).
Negative Effects of PC Gaming
Reduced Academic Performance – Gaming more each day has proved to be a predictive factor of deteriorating grades over time. The study did, however, not affect basic competencies in math and science subjects (Gnambs et al., 2018).
Increased Academic Debt – A study found a relationship between gamers who play ten hours or more per week and increased student debt and grades (Shirshov & Razumnikova, 2023).
Lower Grades and GPA – Evidence suggested that gamers had worse exam scores, which eventually resulted in lower GPAs after some time. One study showed that gamers had lower GPAs than non-gamers (Wright, 2011), while research based on undergraduates revealed lower exam scores (Ip, Jacobs, & Watkins, 2008).
Mixed/Neutral Effects of PC Gaming
No Long-Term Impacts – The PISA study data was reevaluated in 2014, indicating that PC gaming did have negligible impacts on adolescents. Their academic achievements in sciences, math, and reading were largely unaffected (Drummond & Sauer, 2014).
Varied Results or Impact by Game Type – Video game categories have different effects on students and their academic performance. However, alternative studies have also suggested that there are no varying effects between each type of game and the result grades from the gamers (Smyth, 2007).
Conclusion
There is proof of the effects of PC gaming on academic performance based on the studies linked above. However, there are various factors in between the lines, so we can’t conclude that its entirely bad for students. There are long-standing and proven benefits as well, such as the aforementioned increase in visual-spatial skills.
However, the bottom line here is the habits formed and the discipline to avoid them while being enthusiastic about gaming. Moderation is always the key to balancing out the pros and cons of PC gaming. It’s up to you to balance your gaming and academics so everyone is happy and healthy.
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