Playing Fortnite among elementary school boys may lead to stronger relationships with peers
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The Impact of Computer Games on the Social Skills of Elementary School Students: A Comprehensive Analysis | Games for Health Journal
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/g4h.2024.0048
Playing Fortnite linked to stronger peer relationships in boys
https://www.psypost.org/playing-fortnite-linked-to-stronger-peer-relationships-in-boys/
There has been much debate over the years about the link between playing digital games and children's social skills: some argue that digital games promote isolation and aggression, while others claim that cooperative games improve communication skills and teamwork.
A research team from Shiraz University in Iran investigated the effects of playing digital games on social skills among boys in the fourth to sixth grades of elementary school in Iran. The subjects were 192 elementary school boys, who were divided into 'students who play games' and 'students who do not play games.' In addition, the titles of the games played by students who play games were also surveyed.
The researchers used a validated social skills questionnaire to assess multiple aspects of social behavior, including appropriate social interactions, impulsivity, antisocial tendencies, dominance, peer relationships, and aggression. They also looked at the amount of time participants spent playing games and whether they played on a mobile or console device.
The analysis revealed significant differences in several areas between students who played video games and those who did not. Overall, there were no significant differences in appropriate social interactions or aggression, but game-playing students showed higher scores in 'antisocial tendencies,' 'desire for dominance,' and 'peer relationships.'
While the pattern of positive peer relationships despite high antisocial tendencies may seem contradictory at first glance, the research team believes this may be due to the social nature of many games, which promote both peer bonding and competitiveness.
The results were also influenced by the grade level of the students, with fifth-grade boys showing higher levels of aggression and dominance than fourth-grade and sixth-grade boys. This result may be related to the fact that fifth-grade children are experiencing developmental changes such as changes in identity, independence, and social roles.
The type of game played also had a significant impact on the results.
Furthermore, the longer the time spent playing games, the greater the change in children's social skills. Regression analysis showed that the longer the time spent playing games, the higher the scores for 'impulsivity' and 'desire for dominance' and the lower the scores for 'relationships with peers.'
This study was conducted on boys in elementary school in Iran, so the results may not be the same for girls or people from different cultural backgrounds. It is also important to note that the data is cross-sectional and does not examine the long-term effects on development.
Fortnite, the game featured in this study, is extremely popular among children, and Amazon.co.jp sells a number of Fortnite-related products for children, including a Fortnite strategy guide complete with furigana , toys in collaboration with Lego, and a collaborative wireless controller for the Nintendo Switch .
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