Causal effect of video game play on mental well-being: a quasi-experimental study among Japanese population

Findings from previous observational and experimental studies on the relationship between video gaming and mental well-being have been inconsistent, warranting further investigation of their causal relationship outside a laboratory setting. Through the unique use of game console lotteries as a quasi-experiment, we identified the causal relationship between video gaming and well-being. We employed multiple causal inference methods, including multivariate regression, propensity score matching, and instrumental variable method, to estimate the average causal effect. Further, we utilized machine learning to evaluate the individual causal effects. Multiple-round online surveys of game players and non-players collected data from 97,602 Japanese participants aged 10-69 between 2020 and 2022. Exposures included ownership of popular game consoles (Nintendo Switch and PlayStation5) and gameplay time. We found that owning a Nintendo Switch or PlayStation5 and gameplay time improved mental health and life satisfaction, assessed by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Specifically, Nintendo Switch ownership reduced psychological distress by 0.60 standard deviations (SD), while PlayStation5 ownership decreased it by 0.12 SD. Similarly, PlayStation5 ownership improved life satisfaction by 0.23 SD. Further, an additional gaming hour reduced psychological distress by 0.20 SD and improved life satisfaction by 0.26 SD, though gaming beyond three hours daily lessened the psychological benefits. Machine learning revealed divergent impacts between consoles, with PlayStation5 showing lower benefits for females and adolescents, while no such pattern emerged for Nintendo Switch. These findings underscore moderate video gaming’s benefits for digital well-being and call for additional investigation into underlying mechanisms.