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Gamingis a widely loved pastime for many people around the world.
In the U.S. alone, 190.6 million peoplesaythey play video games at least for an hour per week.
Forthis couple, that became a bit of a problem.
A woman went on a trip for a week and let her girlfriend game on her computer.
When she returned, her GF was officially hooked.
Bored Pandawanted to know more about how gaming habits impact relationship dynamics.
So, we reached out toDr.
Rachel Kowert, a researcher on the uses and effects of digital games.
She told us more about the benefits ofvideo gamesfor couples and how much gaming can actually be too much.
Read her expert insights below!
However, researchshowsthat 48% out of the 212 million video gamers in the U.S. are female.
Whats more, its not a solitary activity as many would imagine.
Gaming can actually bring couples closer.
We askedRachel Kowert, Ph.D., an Ottawa-based psychologist to share her expertise on the topic.
Online gaming is a great way for couples to spend time together, Kowert says.
The research has found that playing online games comes with far more benefits than risks, she adds.
Indeed, one surveyfoundthat couples who game report it having a positive influence on their relationship.
But how can couples enjoy video games when theres only onegaming setupat home?
There are plenty of ways for couples to play together even with one gaming setup, Dr. Kowert says.
Sometimes, gamers trigger the risk of overdoing it, potentially harming their physical and mental well-being.
But how can we know how much gaming is too much gaming?
Some researchers suggest a number as a point of reference for how much might be too much.
Rachel Kowert, Ph.D., however, isnt so quick to rely on numbers only.
How much is too much is probably the most common question I receive, Dr. Kowert tells Bored Panda.
that is when it becomes too much.
50 hours in five days sounds like a lot, Kowert admits.
But is itinherently a problem based on numbers alone?
Perhaps they had a weeks vacation.
Check out the results:
