Speaker

Name: Games for Health Europe Conference
Start: 2025-03-31T09:00
End: 2025-04-01T18:00

Speaker Info

Biography: Dylan Arnold is a graduate student with a First-Class Honors BDes in Game Design and is currently pursuing a PhD in Applied Games at Abertay University. With over six years of experience in game development, Dylan transitioned to Applied Games to explore the transformative potential of games beyond entertainment, particularly in the Health and Education sectors. His current research focuses on the relationship between digital video games and mental health, investigating their potential as tools for mental health maintenance and improvement. Passionate about both tabletop and digital gaming, Dylan combines his deisexpertise and academic curiosity to contribute to the growing field of Games for Health. He aims to bridge the gap between recreational gaming and its practical applications, demonstrating the positive impact games can have on mental well-being.

Summary: This presentation delves into the nuanced relationship between digital video games and mental health, focusing on their role in managing depressive symptoms among university students. Video games are a cultural and psychological phenomenon, offering both opportunities and challenges for mental well-being. Utilising Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and the Biopsychosocial Model, this research investigates how students perceive and utilise games as tools for mental health regulation. Through qualitative interviews and Reflexive Thematic Analysis, this study explores the complex interplay of social, psychological, and biological factors that influence the perception of gaming as a tool for health, gaming behaviours and mental health outcomes. The findings highlight the potential of video games to foster social connection, provide stress relief, and enhance mood, while also addressing concerns such as isolation and maladaptive gaming habits. By presenting a balanced and evidence-based perspective, this talk aims to shed light on how video games can be leveraged for positive mental health outcomes, paving the way for healthier and balanced gaming practices as well as informed interventions.