Perceived Impact of Video Gaming on Employment: Implications for Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling

Research Objectives: To learn how video games impact individuals in multiple contexts of functioning.
To gain knowledge of players’ perspectives of their video gaming behaviors on the impact of attaining/maintaining employment.
To gain an understanding of players’ perceptions of how game play translates to acquiring transferrable skills in the workplace.

Design: Mixed methods study examining perceptions of players’ gaming behaviors on past, current and future employment. Likert scale to assess players’ perceptions regarding the impact, both positive and negative, of their game play on employment. Qualitative feedback requested for richer data on how gaming impacted their ability to obtain/maintain employment.

Setting: Data were collected via an anonymous online survey through social media and forum-based websites.

Participants: Inclusion criteria - individuals aged 18 years or older who have played a video game within the last month.

Interventions: This study did not employ an intervention. It was conducted to inform future research/interventions that promote wellness and balance for individuals who engage in video game play and strategies/interventions to enhance clinician knowledge/skills to meet the needs of gamer clients with focus on addressing problematic game play affecting the ability to perform in the workplace.

Main Outcome Measures: Data was collected on perspectives of an anonymous sample of gamers to inform future studies/interventions related to problematic gaming behaviors.

Results: 139 respondents. 82% “disagreed” or “strongly disagreed” that gaming had an impact on obtaining or maintaining/retaining employment. Gamers identified transferrable skills gained from video games that have actively contributed to productivity in the workplace. Negative implications focused on too much time spent gaming or prioritizing gaming instead of work. This can cause lack of productivity and avoidance of workplace responsibilities.

Conclusions: Due to the high use and accessibility of video games, understanding how to target problematic gaming behaviors that inhibit ability to function in the workplace is needed. Study results support further exploration of gaming behaviors with focus on implications for individuals with disabilities.

Author(s) Disclosures: We disclose that we are colleagues with an ACRM Board member, Dr. Tina Dillahunt-Aspillaga.