A research team from the University of Wisconsin–Madison has a paper out this month purporting to show that Pokemon Go play essentially makes people happier, or more specifically, is associated with being happy. Having surveyed 399 US adults last summer, the team concludes that playing the game “was associated with various positive responses (increased positive affect, nostalgic reverie, friendship formation, friendship intensification, and walking), most of which predicted enhanced well-being” and that “two indirect effects of gameplay were moderated by social anxiety.”
According to the University, the researchers asked
“questions about [subjects’] emotional and social lives and levels of physical activity before segueing into Pokemon. More than 40 percent of their respondents turned out to be Pokemon Go players, and those people were more likely to be exercising — walking briskly, at least — and more likely to be experiencing positive emotions and nostalgia. […] They were also more social. Players were more likely than nonplayers to be making new friends and deepening old friendships.”
The full article is paywalled and not available to us, so it’s unclear whether the team was able to disentangle “I have the luxury time to exercise, chill with friends, and play video games on my sweet, sweet phone” happiness from Pokemon Go or MMOARG happiness
In other PoGo news, the game’s Easter event is kicking off today. Eggy egg eggs.
“Lace up your walking shoes and get ready to put a spring in your step—the Pokémon GO Eggstravaganza is nearly here! From 1:00 P.M. PDT on April 13 to 1:00 P.M. PDT on April 20, 2017, a greater variety of Pokémon can now be found in 2 km Eggs, so get cracking and see what you find! Your Egg-venture doesn’t stop there, though—you’ll also earn more Candy for every Egg you hatch!”
My alternate hypothesis: Pokémon Go appeals to people who are easily made happy.
I don’t know anybody big into Pokémon who isn’t a reasonably happy person. It attracts a certain kind, and it entertains a certain kind. The cute factor is high and that generally means a lack of death-metal or black-metal kind of grim pagan sorts.
I’ve always said it’s D&D for girls. The Pokedex is suspiciously similar to the Monster Manual. :)
Boy here, love Pokemon.
of course! and I loved D&D. :)
Doing things you enjoy make you happy…who knew.
I would love to read a related study that looks at what sorts of feelings are associated with people who frequently post in the comments of gaming sites.
*reads comments* … I have a strong hypothesis.
Go ahead. The conclusions couldn’t be any less intelligent than the premise.
Let’s see: Games make people happy (when they like the game.) Exercise releases chemicals that result in happiness. Our study on the two combined shows that this results in, be surprised people, happiness! :P
While I do question of a ‘study’ like this, I do have to admit I rather enjoy Pokemon GO.
lol
Ah, the modern Uni study.
People who do Pub Crawls are happy, too. (increased positive affect, nostalgic reverie, friendship formation, friendship intensification, and walking), most of which predicted enhanced well-being
you forgot the inebriation :)
This is a shit study. There exists no actual real correlation here.
You have some kids who WANT PoGo to be “good” who structured a study to get the results they wanted.
It could be that, but it could also be that they need funding for a long term study. It’s sadly the way the system works. You need to publish to get funding for additional publishing. This could essentially be part 1 and they’re hoping to get funding for a follow-up study. I’d wager that now that the hype’s died down, the “happiness” levels are more normalized. Looking at the numbers now would be more interesting I think. Hopefully that’s their next step.
It is a wonder people were even capable of being happy before Pokemon Go came along!
And I think interviewing people at the height of the fad would obviously affect people’s enjoyment of the game. I wonder what the results would be like now.