Researchers seek to reduce e-gaming health risks

Researchers seek to reduce e-gaming health risks

RMIT’s Translation Investment Fund is supporting researchers to transform e-gaming from a health risk to a wellness opportunity.

E-gaming attracts millions of players globally who seek entertainment and social interaction, but it also poses significant health risks, especially for young people.  

Excessive gaming has been linked to poor eating habits, lack of exercise and disrupted sleep patterns. In Australia, where over 70% of the population engages in e-gaming, there is an urgent need to address these health risks.   

RMIT Associate Professor Vasileios Stavropoulos is leading a research project in partnership with Mighty Serious and Catholic Care School Counselling that aims to reduce unhealthy gaming habits.

Stavropoulos said that the research will lead to practical Virtual Reality (VR) interventions that positively affect mental health and well-being.  

“We aim to create a gamified health app designed to increase awareness and reduce e-addictions and unhealthy habits among adolescents,” Stavropoulos said. 

The app will tailor VR gamified experiences to the individual user by utilising user-avatar bonds and machine learning, making it the first of its kind to do so. This will allow users to engage in scenarios that encourage adaptive, prosocial and healthy real-life behaviours. 

With 11% of Australian youth at risk of developing a gaming disorder, Stavropoulos said that the app has the potential to impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people and their families. 

28 September 2023

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Person playing computer game Excessive gaming is linked to poor diet, lack of exercise and disrupted sleep. Image: Adobe Stock.

Funding and interdisciplinary collaboration put project on track to achieve impact

The project received funding as part of the 2023 RMIT Translation Investment Fund, which is designed to advance the market readiness of projects and create real-world impact.

Employing an interdisciplinary approach by combining expertise in the field and partnering with mental health industries has also helped Stavropoulos expand the scope of the project.

In addition to addressing gaming habits, the project will look at how avatar-based applications can be adapted to address other health and behavioural issues.

“The implications of this research are far-reaching and could significantly benefit society.”

“By converting digital gaming from a health risk to a health-protective factor, the project not only addresses immediate health concerns but also contributes to broader societal well-being,” Stavropoulos said.

 

About Associate Professor Vasileios Stavropoulos

Associate Professor Vasileios Stavropoulos is an academic and Clinical Psychologist with a focus on the use and abuse of digital media and online games.  

His research battles the health risks and embraces the benefits of digital media usage by focusing on the exploration of risk and protective factors, measurement issues, understanding what makes digital applications engaging, and digital phenotyping for mental health.  

His work has been supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award in 2021 and recognised in a 2022 Tall Poppy Victoria Award. 

 

Story by: Giulio Mancuso

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28 September 2023

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