Kids May Be Happier with a Little Gaming

Kids who play video games, but for less than an hour a day, may be better adjusted than those who don’t play at all. That’s the conclusion of a new study of nearly 5,000 boys and girls. Their ages ranged from 10 to 15. They were asked about the time they spent playing video games. They also filled out questionnaires that assessed their emotions, conduct, attention and relationships. Those who played games for less than an hour a day were most likely to be happy and helpful. They were more emotionally stable than the other groups. They were less likely to act out. Kids who played 1 to 3 hours a day had about the same level of emotional adjustment as those who didn’t play. Kids who played more than 3 hours a day tended to be less happy than the other groups. They were more likely to have behavior problems.