Study finds link between violent video games and aggression

According to a new study, violent video games can be linked to teenage aggression.

Dartmouth researchers published the results of a meta-analysis of 24 studies done worldwide. They revealed that children are becoming more aggressive when they play violent video games. According to the study, previously reported by USA today, the aggression would begin between three months and four years after the start of the violent video game by the children. Their behavior included fighting at school or hitting someone other than a family member, according to the report.

The 24 studies were conducted between 2000 and 2017 in the United States, Canada, Germany and Japan. They included a total of 17,000 students aged nine to 19 years old. The researchers analyzed the results of all these studies to determine if there was a link between violent video games and physical aggression.

"Based on our findings, we believe that it is clear that violent video gaming is associated with a subsequent increase in physical aggression," said Jay Hull, lead author of the study. . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences newspaper, according to USA today.

The possible link between violent video games and childhood aggression has been studied and debated for years. And each part of the debate makes passionate arguments for his convictions. Hull even acknowledged that while "the effect exists" on video games that provoke aggression in children, it remains "relatively small".

However, it is clear that video games have become more realistic and include various violent elements. And the chances of this reverse course are slim. In the future, Hull said in the newspaper that he believed that researchers should use the results to deepen the effects of video games on children and those most at risk.