A cohort analysis of the relationships between digital game habits and wellbeing.

Digital games are a hugely popular and successful pastime. Three quarters of all 12-17 year olds regularly play games online (Ofcom, 2022). Games can offer relaxation and distraction which can help with mental health and flourishing. At the same time, too much play can lead to disengaging from other activities such as physical exercise and social activities, which can lead to a deterioration in mental health. To understand how games interact with the mental health of children, we first need to understand what, if any, associations there are between how much people play, how they play and their mental health. The goal of this project is to analyse the children taking part in Born in Bradford to understand how much they are playing digital games and engaging in activities related to gaming and to relate this to their general resilience, wellbeing and social connections. These findings will provide a foundation for more focused investigations into how games can support mental health of children but also when they can be detrimental.