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As video game production has increased, so has video game consumption. The archetype of the "gamer", who plays video games for multiple hours per day, is a pervasive part of pop culture. This has sparked a debate on whether or not too much gaming can be a bad thing. Although fans of video games may argue for their hand-eye coordination and cognition building capabilities, opponents often call into question the effect such an isolating, digital experience may have on mental health.
The study asked 414 adults from the US and UK to add the researchers' Xbox accounts so they could track playtime by recording how long participants were online. They measured the statistics over three time periods: 24 hours, seven days, and 14 days. The researchers found no link between a participant's playtime and their self-reported wellbeing. Inversely, they also found no connection between changes in wellbeing affecting playtime. The distribution of playtime was also large, with some logging on for less than an hour a day and some for over five hours.