Experiences of video game play and subreddit communities on self-reported well-being and resilience during COVID-19: A phenomenological study of animal crossing: new horizons

ABSTRACT

COVID-19, the global pandemic first reported in 2019, has led to many potential negative mental well-being issues, including depression, anxiety, and boredom. Research suggests that informal, targeted psychological interventions, such as those that allow for a sense of control and virtual socialization, may be helpful in boosting mental well-being and general resilience. Of the many interventions that exist, two informal ones are examined in this study 1) video game play, and 2) online game-related forum discussions. For video game play, one game-Animal Crossing New Horizons, or ANCH-was examined primarily due to its massive popularity during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. For online, game-related forum discussions, Reddit was chosen due to its global popularity and plethora of available game-related forums, also called subreddits. In this hermeneutic phenomenological study, data were collected from six participants (n=6) who both played the game and participated in game-related subreddits during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. These participants, with ages ranging 18 to 35, completed two background questionnaires and two online, Zoom interviews. Results from these participants indicated that ACNH and its subreddit communities helped these players maintain their mental well-being and build resilience by providing increased opportunities for 1) socialization, 2) escapism, 3) goal setting, 4) player autonomy, and 5) real-world connections. These results likely have implications for 1) mental health professionals, 2) video game players and designers, and 3) researchers interested in using video games for supporting mental well-being and resilience. Suggestions for future research are also provided. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)