11: Games
- Page ID
- 131188
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Take a moment to imagine each of the following scenarios:
- Rolling a Yahtzee during game night
- Competing as part of a team in a sporting event
- Landing on "Free Parking" during a fierce round of Monopoly
- Laughing through a round of charades
Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Playing games together can improve physical and psychological health. (Photos by ClickerHappy from Pexels (left), Philip Taylor ptmoney.com from Flikr (right).)
Did any of those scenarios bring to mind a positive memory? Hopefully one or two! All these scenarios have elements of social interaction through playing a game. The saying "fun and games" implies the innate connection between participating in games and finding joy. If you dig a little deeper into that concept, research shows that the health benefits of playing games are plentiful. Some of the benefits may come from the game itself, while other benefits may relate to participating in a social interaction.
Social interaction is important for health. Studies have shown that being socially active is associated with less stress and depression, lower blood pressure, smaller waist circumference and body mass index, and better overall cortisol levels (Barbieri, 2021). Social interaction, also identified as "social and community context", has been identified to be one of the five primary social determinants of health as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2024). These health determinants are non-medical factors that are most likely to influence health outcomes in the general population.
Games can be one specific approach to social interaction. In one recent study, data suggested that table-top, role-playing games can result in reduced general anxiety, social anxiety, and improved social skills (Varrette et al., 2022). A different 20-year, population-based study found the risk for dementia was 15% lower in participants who regularly participated in playing board games (Dartigues et al., 2013). A published systematic review incorporated 83 studies about “board games” and outlined health benefits that ranged from decreased heart rate variability and panic attacks to increased gray-matter in the brain and lower depression scores (Nakao, 2019). But board games are not the only game that showed positive effects. Barbieri (2021) reported that individuals who participated in organized sports self-reported that they had improved physical and psychological health.
"Health and games" is not as catchy to say as "fun and games", but the proof of the health benefits are impressive! And remember, people were designed by God as social beings. In Genesis 2:18 (NASB), "the Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone'.” In Matthew 18:20 (NIV), Jesus states that “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Was Jesus talking about playing board games? No. Did God create Eve specifically to throw around an apple? Probably not! However, humans were created to be together and playing games can be just one potentially positive way to do that.
Activity
As you might be able to guess, today you will be playing a game of your choice. Games offer the opportunity for social interaction and the ability to learn life skills that can be applied in other areas of life. Whatever game is chosen, though, have fun!!
Materials Suggested
- A game of your choice
- A person or group of people to play your game with
Directions
Find another person or a group and play a game together! The only requirement is that it must be with someone else (no single-player Solitaire or playing a game on your phone!). It is recommended that you play the game in person, but if absolutely necessary there are apps or online games that can allow for live social interaction while playing with others.
The options for games are endless! A few favorites from a recent unofficial survey include:
- Dutch Blitz card game
- Sequence
- Candyland
- Jackbox
- Hilarium
- Kickball
- Tag
Remember that you can also play games that don't have a winner and loser (particularly if you either get too competitive or don't like competition). There are many cooperative games where you work together with others to achieve some task including:
- Pandemic
- Max
- Tower building
- Telephone
- 5-Word Story
Alternatives/Variations
- Gathering together to prepare a meal
- Being part of a team
- Taking a walk with friends
Weekly Recommendations/Homework
The activity this week is to play a game. Try to schedule at least two additional social gatherings around a game this week or you can achieve this through one longer game session. If doing more than one session, try a different game and see if that makes any difference on how you feel.
Reflection Questions
- Describe any changes you noticed in the following areas when gathering for a game:
- Emotional
- Environmental
- Intellectual
- Occupational
- Physical
- Social
- Spiritual
- What benefits did you feel while playing a game with others?
- What, if any, barriers did you experience when playing a game with others?
- Do you have any additional thoughts and/or future plans for playing a game with others?
- What are your current stressors and do you have a wellness goal for this week?
References
Barbieri, P. N. (2021). Healthy by association: The relationship between social participation and self-rated physical and psychological health. Health & Social Care in the Community, 29(6), 1925-1935. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13306
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Social determinants of health. https://www.cdc.gov/public-health-gateway/php/about/social-determinants-of-health.html
Dartigues, J. F., Foubert-Samier, A., Le Goff, M., Viltard, M., Amieva, H., Orgogozo, J. M., Barberger-Gateau, P., & Helmer, C. (2013). Playing board games, cognitive decline and dementia: A French population-based cohort study. BMJ Open, 3(8), Article e002998. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002998
Nakao, M. (2019). Special series on "Effects of board games on health education and promotion" board games as a promising tool for health promotion: A review of recent literature. BioPsychoSocial Medicine, 13, Article 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-019-0146-3
Varrette, M., Berkenstock, J., Greenwood-Ericksen, A., Ortega, A., Michaels, F., Pietrobon, V., & Schodorf, M. (2022). Exploring the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy and role-playing games as an intervention for adults with social anxiety. Social Work with Groups, 46(2), 140-156. https://doi.org/10.1080/01609513.2022.2146029