Scientists from the UK, US, and Japan have found that playing video games and watching anime can significantly improve happiness in undergraduate and graduate students. Playing "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" and watching excerpts from "My Neighbor Totoro" can help reduce stress.
Such "therapy sessions" can also boost positive emotions and increase life satisfaction. A total of 518 graduate students from Kyushu Sangyo University participated in the experiment. They were divided into four groups. Some played "The Legend of Zelda," some watched anime, and some played both. The fourth group served as a control group and continued their regular university courses.
Participants were then asked to rate their feelings on a nine-point Likert scale. The results were impressive. The average happiness level in the fourth control group was 3.17, while the "game" group scored 4.56, and the "anime" group saw this score rise to 5.45. However, the highest percentage was found in those who played and watched anime simultaneously, with their happiness levels 130% higher than the control group.
Scientists believe that the combination of the gameplay and nostalgic effects of Hayao Miyazaki's anime contributes to the mood boost. However, the results should not be considered uniform, as participants were only given one game and a limited set of anime.
