A new survey conducted in the US has revealed that video games are an important stress management tool for a large majority of active duty military personnel during their military service. The active duty soldiers surveyed 85% of, stated that playing games provided them with a chance to relax and escape from stressful and challenging military conditions. These striking results clearly demonstrate the important role that video games play in supporting soldiers’ mental resilience.
Games Strengthen Solidarity Among Soldiers
A large-scale survey conducted by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) involving 1.096 veterans and 508 civilian gamers revealed the multifaceted positive effects of gaming on soldiers. 86% of, stated that video games provide a healthy and effective way to cope with stress and anxiety. At the same time, soldiers 81% of, emphasized that games provided them with important emotional support in getting through difficult and traumatic times.
The percentage of former soldiers who think that the positive effects of games continue in civilian life after military service is %77 It was also recorded that the proportion of soldiers who reported playing video games with others on a regular basis each week was significantly higher %79It has reached . These players 58% of, stated that they continue to play games on online platforms with friends they knew from their military service. This finding shows that video games are not only a means of individual relaxation, but also have an important function in maintaining strong social ties and support mechanisms.
The survey results also clearly showed that video games are a powerful bonding tool among soldiers serving together. 78% of, while stating that playing games together significantly strengthens team spirit and solidarity, 73% of emphasized that games increase cooperation and coordination during missions. The percentage of soldiers who play online games with their friends at home during their missions %56 While the proportion of those who play games with their families is measured as %44 This data suggests that games help soldiers maintain connections with both their colleagues and loved ones.
The Most Preferred Game Types and Their Contribution to Mental Health
Another noteworthy part of the research revealed the types of games that soldiers most prefer. 55% of While he stated that he mostly played shooter games, he also played role-playing games (RPG) and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMO) %39, sports games %31 Among the most popular games is the one with millions of players worldwide. Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA) ve Fortnite Stephen Machuga, director of Stack Up, a nonprofit organization that provides mental health support to soldiers, emphasized the importance of such support by highlighting the positive contributions video games make to soldiers’ mental health. The survey results clearly show that video games are a valuable tool that can help soldiers cope with stress, strengthen social ties, and improve their overall mental health during and after challenging missions.
