Can a scary video game make you feel better even if your mind is tense? Yes, says a new study.

After a stressful event, researchers have found that video games, even ones with violent or intense scenes, can lower stress levels in the body, like the heart rate and cortex. This finding goes against what most people think about how video games effect mental health and offers surprising support for the idea that they might help people deal with stress and their mental health.

The study, which was published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, shows an interesting disconnect: players’ bodies didn’t show that they were more worried and angry during intense parts of a game, but their minds did. Physiological markers like heart rate and cortisol levels dropped after playing, no matter if the scenes were aggressive or not.

The Game That Made Things Peaceful :

To find out more about this effect, researchers led by Gary L. Wagener asked 82 people between the ages of 18 and 40 to do an experiment that made them feel stressed and then play video games. What game was it? It was A Plague Tale: Requiem, a dark and emotional game set in France in the Middle Ages. The players were split into two groups. One group played violent game scenes, and the other group played story scenes without violence.

But first, the people who took part had to go through the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test (SECPT), which involved putting their hand in ice-cold water while being watched, questioned, and filmed. It’s a common way to consistently cause bodily stress in the lab.

After the stress test, each person played the game section they were given for about 25 minutes on a PlayStation 5. People who took part in the study were watched before, during, and after the game. Electrocardiograms (ECG), breath samples for cortisol, and psychology tests were used to keep an eye on the subjects and measure both their physical and mental reactions to stress.

Surprisingly, video games make people less stressed :

Both groups’ bodily stress levels went down after playing. Their heart rates and cortisol levels went down, which suggests that the game had a cooling effect on the body. It’s interesting that players of the violent game scene said they felt more worried and less relaxed, even though their bodies showed the opposite.

People who played the nonviolent scenes, on the other hand, not only felt less stressed physically, but they also said they were quieter and more mentally balanced.

This difference between how stressed someone feels and how relaxed they are physically gives us a better idea of how people misunderstand their own emotions, especially in virtual settings that are fast-paced or hostile.

Why This Is Important: Games and Mental Health Need a New Look :

With more than 3 billion gamers around the world, this study gives us more information about how video games can help us control our emotions. A big study found that 89% of gamers already see video games as a way to relieve stress. This claim is now backed up by hard biology data.

The researchers say that playing video games may help people deal with stress in real life, no matter what the games are about. This includes dangerous games, which are often looked at to see if they have any negative effects on mental health. The study doesn’t say that violent games are good for therapy, though.

A big deal is that the amount of difficulty may matter. The players thought the aggressive parts were harder, which could have made their mental load and emotional response higher while their bodies were still healing. It’s possible that the game gave them a sense of control, agency, and involvement, all of which are known to lower stress in the body.

Not to be Careless :

Even though the study shows some short-term benefits, it doesn’t take away from the fact that extreme or repetitive games can have negative affects. Long sessions, trouble sleeping, being alone, or bad interactions in online places can make long-term stress or anxiety worse.

The study only looked at one story-based game, so its results might not be applicable to all games. For example, Call of Duty or Fortnite, which are very competitive and can raise stress and energy in different ways, are not the same.

Still, the results make a strong case for rethinking how people talk about video games, which is usually seen as either a way to escape reality or a mental health risk.

Video games make people less stressed. What Does This Mean for the Future?

This study comes at a time when technology for mental health and digital well-being are coming together. More and more health apps and relaxation tools are coming out, and video games may soon be used in hospital situations for short-term stress release.

If game designers do more study, they might even be able to make experiences that help people heal from pain or worry, crossing the lines between fun and therapy.

The main point? Your body may be more relaxed than you think, even when the game feels intense or wild. This could change the way we think about gaming, stress, and digital health.

Disclaimer:

This article summarizes scientific research and is not a substitute for professional healthcare advice. If you or someone you know is dealing with stress or mental health challenges, please seek help from a qualified mental health professional.