Oxford Study Finds Playing PowerWash Simulator Boosts Mood for 72% of Gamers

The research highlights short-term mood improvements, suggesting potential mental health benefits from video games.

The study involved 8,695 players from 39 countries, analyzing data from 67,328 gaming sessions.
Participants reported a mood boost within the first 15 minutes of playing PowerWash Simulator.
The research found that gaming led to a greater mood improvement than activities like watching TV or shopping, but less than listening to music or having sex.
The study emphasizes the need for further research with a variety of games to generalize the findings.
Researchers suggest gaming could be used for mood-related interventions and stress management.