Positive effects of online games on the growth of college students: A qualitative study from China

Feiyue Li; Di Zhang; Suowei Wu; Rui Zhou; Chaoqun Dong; Jingjing Zhang

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1008211

Positive effects of online games on the growth of college students: A qualitative study from China

Front Psychol. 2023 Feb 24:14:1008211. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1008211. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Feiyue Li¹, Di Zhang¹, Suowei Wu¹, Rui Zhou², Chaoqun Dong¹, Jingjing Zhang¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
² School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the positive effects of online games on college students' psychological demands and individual growth.

Methods: A qualitative study design was carried out in September 2021. Semi-structured, in-depth, and individual interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 20 undergraduates who played the online game "Glory of Kings" from six universities. Thematic analysis was employed to explore the positive features caused by "Glory of Kings".

Results: College students reported three positive effects of online games, namely, satisfying the need for personal growth, meeting the requirement of social life and promoting academic performance.

Conclusion: College educators and families should take advantage of the positive effect of online games to guide college students to use online games reasonably.

Keywords: Glory of Kings; academic performance; college students; online games; personal growth; qualitative study; social life.

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Wenzhou Science and Technology Bureau Project (R20220086) and Zhejiang Province Curriculum Ideological and Political Education Research Project.