Girls who spent more time gaming at age 10 showed poorer social skills two years later than girls who devoted less time to video games.
A study in Norway tracked 873 school children for six years, starting when they were 6 years old
The study noted that a new generation of online games have become more socially interactive, and researchers speculated that could potentially mean that games improve social skills.Playing video games may not necessarily impair children's social skills, and a new study suggests that any behavioral effect that frequent gaming might have may occur only in pre-teen girls.
After researchers accounted for factors that can independently influence social skills - like being overweight or obese, or coming from a low-income household where parents have less education - they didn't find any connection between time spent gaming and social skills for boys. Children who struggle with social or behavioral skills might gravitate toward gaming precisely because it doesn't require face-to-face interactions.
The study wasn't designed to prove whether or how gaming might directly influence social development. As the study team notes, these more modern interactive games can involve a variety of cognitive challenges that involve intense social interactions with real-life or online friends. And it's possible playing these games might actually help kids improve cognitive, emotional and social skills.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kids On 45th Raises $3.3 Million To Help Moms Find Great, Affordable Kids ClothesWhen you're a working mom of three, your idea of a perfect Saturday isn't running to Target or Walmart to buy kids clothes. Shopping online is so much easier.
Read more »
California couple arrested after two kids found in 'cages' won't face child endangerment charges: DA'They're cribs, you can buy them on Amazon,' District Attorney Sam Kyllo told local media.
Read more »
Gaps in California arrest data make it easier for violent felons to get guns, study findsStanford Law School on Monday released a report highlighting gaps in criminal justice data that they say hinder researchers and law enforcement. The data gaps allow offenders to own firearms and unduly criminalize others.
Read more »
Unreliable Nature Of Solar And Wind Makes Electricity More Expensive, New Study FindsSolar panels and wind turbines are making electricity significantly more expensive, a major new study by a team of economists from the University of Chicago finds.
Read more »
Restaurant servers don't know much about food allergies, study findsWhen eating out, people with food allergies often have to trust their servers for information on what is safe to eat. But most restaurant staff have limited knowledge about allergies, according to new research.
Read more »
Southern California experiences an earthquake every three minutes, a new study findsThe expanded earthquake data will help scientists understand how swarms of earthquakes evolve and previously unknown temblors that precede major earthquakes.
Read more »
TV shows ‘Bones’ and ‘Criminal Minds’ cross political divides, a new study findsIt turns out that liberals, conservatives and anyone in between can find common ground in episodes of “Bones” and “Criminal Minds,” according to a new study.
Read more »
Same-sex borrowers 73 percent more likely to be denied mortgage, study findsDespite being “less risky overall,” same-sex borrowers are less likely to get a mortgage. When they are approved, they face higher interest.
Read more »
Smoking and depression apps are selling your data to Google and Facebook, study findsMany of these apps are transmitting data to third parties without their users’ knowledge or consent.
Read more »