Mental Health and Digital Games

The impact of digital games on mental health has been found to be both positive and negative. Learn more about my work in this area which has specifically focused on the impact of mediated communication and social communities in digital gaming spaces.

Talks & Speaking Engagements

Press

Are video games addictive?

Next Level, Newsy

A look at this October's Games Accessibility Conference

Eurogamer

How video games can help (not hurt) mental health

Newsy

What’s the truth about video games and the damage they may do?

Polygon

Psychologists talk Animal Crossing

Nintendo life

How games can make you a better person, but not a worse one

Metro

Metaverse effects on mental health: trivial or troubling

Wall Street Journal

Research

Designing Games to Challenge the Stigma Around Mental Health

(Whitby & Kowert, 2022)

A 3D model of mental health representation in games

(Dunlap & Kowert, 2021)

The one-and-a-half sided parasocial relationship: The curious case of live streaming

(Kowert & Daniel, 2021)

Digital Games and Mental Health

(Kowert, Ferguson, Fletcher, & Rusch, 2021)

State of the Industry 2019: Mental Health in the Game Industry

(Crevoshay, Hays, Kowert, Boccamazzo, & Dunlap, 2019)

The role of social identity and online social capital on psychosocial outcomes in MMO players

(Kaye, Kowert, & Quinn, 2017)

Playing for social comfort: Online video game play as a social accommodator for the insecurely attached

(Kowert & Oldmeadow, 2014)

Talks & Speaking Engagements

Design Solutions and Challenges - Mental Health Representation in Games

Psychgeist

The benefits of gaming

Industry Perspectives

Video Games & Friendship

Psychgeist

Parasocial Relationships & Streaming

Psychgeist

Games, Mental Health, & Esports

Purdue Symposium

Mental Health Representation in Games

Psychgeist

Sign Up For My Newsletter

A (mostly) monthly newsletter about digital playgrounds.

Quick Links

Contact Me

[email protected]

© 2023 Rachel Kowert, PhD

Designed by Azuro Digital