Gamertell

The dueling studies as to whether video games are harmless, destructive or somewhere in between continues.

A study published Friday (January 23, 2009) in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence concludes that video games ruin relationships between gamers and their family and friends. The basis of the study is research conducted by Brigham Young University undergrad Alex Jensen and Laura Walker, a professor from the university’s School of Family, Home and Social Sciences. They gathered data from 813 college students to come up with their conclusions.

According to Jensen and Walker, the more students play video games the worse they rate their relationships with peers and family. Walker told BYU’s news service that it may be because young adults remove themselves from social settings to play games, or the games could be an escape for people who would already rather not engage in social settings. Walker’s guess is that it’s a little of both.

All the impacts this particular study found were negative. In addition to the bad personal relationships,  the study indicates that gamers are more likely to engage in risky behavior such as drug abuse and drinking.

According to the study, gamers who play daily were twice as likely to smoke pot as occasional gamers and three times as likely to smoke pot as those who don’t game.

The timing of this study is perfect for video game opponents in Utah as there is currently talk of video game legislation. Involved, as always, is our favorite disbarred attorney Jack Thompson.

Read [Information Week] Also Read [Game Politics]