Profiling the average gamer
The CDC looks at who’s spending the most time playing video games. Hint: he’s not a teenager.
A new C.D.C. study reveals the typical gamer.
(Corbis/Roy Hsu)
If you think of the typical gamer as a teenager battling his friends in World of Warcraft, “think again,” said Sharon Gaudin in ComputerWorld. According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average gamer “is actually a 35-year-old man who is overweight, aggressive, introverted—and often depressed.”
I was starting to suspect the CDC “had cameras in my bedroom,” said Chris Greenhough in The Inquisitr, but “ha,” I’m only 29—“in your face, science.” Actually, the CDC report raises serious concerns about obesity and depression among gamers, though the researchers see the gaming as a symptom—a form of digital self-medication—rather than a cause of the depression.
Despite the profile, only 56 percent of the gamers in the study were male, said Michael Barkoviak in DailyTech, and the women were more likely to show signs of depression, while the men were more likely to be overweight. Critics say the sample size, 552 adults, is too small, and the Seattle-Tacoma area too specific a region, but the results are in line with other gaming research. Small wonder mental health experts are getting worried.
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11 Comments
Posted by Not Sharing, Monday, August 24, 2009, 10:34 am So, uh...lets say that hypothetically I am depressed and my selfmedication is playing World of Warcraft....how does one suggest I get past that depression instead of video games?
Posted by Johnny Reb, Monday, August 24, 2009, 12:41 pm That's no suprise.. A fat, miserable, socially awkward, uncouth manchild sitting in his room late at night playing on the 'puter 'cause Hayden Paniterre doesn't loves him. Get the Hot Pocket out of your mouth, turn the console off, get your tubby ass on a treadmill, hang observe real people and pick up some social skills, then go out and interact. It's not as bad as you think. Pathetic losers.
Posted by KS, Monday, August 24, 2009, 1:24 pm OK...hey I'm a 40 guy who runs 5K's and works in a very team oriented business environment...who loves to play Call of Duty online in the evenings. Work takes up a lot of time and jumping on the PS3 and running around virtual WWII environments sniping 12 30 year olds and emerging the 1,2, or 3 highest scoring player in a given game. At my age...what a joy!!! Lose the stereotypes...please...it really gets old after a while and just makes you look dumb.
Posted by DB, Monday, August 24, 2009, 1:37 pm Johnny Reb: when was the last time you played a video game? It's nice to rely on those stereotypes that held true in the 90's, but a lot has changed since then. I've met people from all over the world and have had some good cultural lessons and experiences from them that would be difficult to get if I hung around a bunch of rednecks talking about NASCAR. Also, the amount of bullshit that you have to deal with forces you to be quick, clever, and witty in order to hold your ground. Those are handy social skills, tool.
Posted by PJ, Monday, August 24, 2009, 2:09 pm My husband age 58 and both sons play World of Warcraft and other games, both on the computer and in person board games, card games, etc. None of them fit this profile, nor do any of the other people I know who proudly call themselves gamers. These games have been an important training ground for my young son to learn about playing fair, being a good loser, teamwork, and healthy competition, especially since he is not athletically gifted which leaves him out of school sports. Plus he plays on line with faraway friends, which he enjoys.
Posted by rocky horrror, Monday, August 24, 2009, 6:07 pm I don't know about the profiles of computer games players, but it doesn't take much of a background in psychology to know that Johnny Reb is a depressed, aggressive, nasty male. Pick up some social skills? Hey, Johnny Reb, I doubt you could distinguish a social skill from a handfull of doubleO buckshot.
Posted by Johnny Reb, Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 9:56 am Hey, rocky horrror, my girlfriend yes, a real woman whom I have actual relations! and the friends yes, real flesh and blood friends! that I socialize with would beg to differ with your opinion. And I haven't played a video game since I was 16. I grew up, got a life, I read, I go outside and experience life. I have no doubt they can be fun, but to act as if video games are some kind of cultural immersion or substitute for real social interaction is a complete joke. Video games are to social interaction as porn is to sex...
Posted by Johnny Reb, Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 9:57 am ...a poor, voyeuristic substitute. But somehow, I imagine the average gamer knows that all too well.
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