Flow Experience, Psychological and Physiological Impacts of Computer Games

• Main Authors: Hou, Chinyi, 侯欽益
• Other Authors: Wang, Chihchien
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/88606059465039628510

碩士 === 國立臺北大學 === 資訊管理研究所 === 100 === This research aims to explore flow experience, psychological and physiological impacts of computer games. Three empirical studies were conducted in this paper. The first study used a questionnaire survey of 321 college students to investigate the relationship between psychological factors and computer game playing. Results revealed that highly dependent game players are with more stress, loneliness, boredom, social anxiety and less satisfaction of life than lowly dependent players. The second study recorded 30 participants‟ brainwave data during they were playing a shooting game. Flow experience of the players was observed through analyzing questionnaire and EEG recordings. The results found that players‟ brainwave attention meter was positively correlated to flow item scores they replied, especially in two constructs: concentration and distortion in time perception. The last study aimed to explore the relationship between playing time and physical health by testing 35 participants‟ heart rate variability at an internet café. Results revealed that heavy game players have higher heart rate; lower heart variability than light players, which means heavy users may bear more cardiac risks than light users. Playing computer games may have psychological and physiological effects on players. Though its flow experience is exciting, pleasant and may relieve stress, boredom, or loneliness temporarily, being dependent on games and play over time could increase health risks.