By: Noah Alvidres

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) –

For many college students, online gaming is a regular part of daily life. A way to relax, socialize and escape the pressures of life. For student, Thomas Reynolds, gaming is a regular part of his week.

“I try to get on a couple times a week. It is important to me catching up with my brother or my friends,” Reynolds says.

Online gaming is consistently criticized for its potential links to depression and anxiety, especially amongst young adults. Reynolds, however, says he views it as a secondary part of his life.  Something that complements it rather than replaces his values.

“Gaming is a good way to relax and be with friends but that’s not the goal. That’s not the end. The goal for my life and for many other people who are spiritually involved is that spiritual aspect of ‘what we look to.’ When you’re on a game, it’s really fun, but games end. Your time with the game will end but your life after that means more than just a game.”

Reynolds says he encourages people struggling with depression to look for that purpose.

Researcher for the College of Education and Health Professions, Lindsay Lundeen, would agree with this sentiment. Having conducted research on this exact subject, Lundeen says that “Looking at intentionality use is really important,” and that is the “so what?” behind the research.

In her research, Lundeen surveyed three-hundred-forty diverse young adults between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four who game online at least once per week. Participants answered questions about their gaming habits, difficulty limiting screen time, and symptoms associated with Major Depressive Disorder, also known as MDD. Finally, they asked participants about their sense of spirituality or religious engagement.

Now, an important part of this research is that spirituality does not have to mean formal religious participation.

“It could be going outside, engaging in forgiveness, or finding a way to make meaning of whatever the circumstances are in your life.”

Part of Lundeen’s motivation for research is almost a call to action for the general public to re-think the way they view the hobby of online gaming.

“My co-author and I are both gamers ourselves. We’ve been associated with online gaming and the addiction sphere for a long time and thought ‘how can we do this in a way that de-stigmitizes gaming and seeking help,” Lundeen says.

The results were striking. Gamers who identified as religious or spiritual were 62 percent less likely to experience symptoms of MDD compared to those who did not. This as well as gamers who struggled to control their internet use were 35 percent more likely to show symptoms of MDD.

For students like Reynolds, the balance between gaming and a broader sense of purpose may be key, reminding gamers that while games can be meaningful, life beyond the screen matters more.