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Behavioral Study Shows Video Games Great for Girls (and Parents)

by Warren Riddle on February 1, 2011 at 03:20 PM

girl playing video gameGirls continue to represent a steadily expanding video gamer demographic. According to a recent study from Brigham Young University's School of Family Life, that's definitely a positive trend -- and not just for game manufacturers. The study involved 11- to 16-year-old girls, and determined that the ones who actually game with their parents perform better in many social areas than girls who play alone or solely with friends.

The study's director, psychology professor Sarah Coyne, told the Wall Street Journal, "It's the face-to-face time, the interaction, that matters." That familial gaming interaction purportedly produces girls who are better behaved, feel tighter family bonds and demonstrate "better mental health" than girls who don't play with their folks. Previous studies correlate perfectly with that dynamic, because research has shown that a majority of kids want their parents to game with them. So, parents, get on that couch and start gaming with your girls!

Tags: Brigham Young University, BrighamYoungUniversity, children, gaming, study, top, videogames

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