With 19.6% of US adults reporting any mental illness in the past year and 11.0% of people aged 12+ showing gaming disorder symptoms over the past 12 months, this post pulls together the key statistics to examine what violent video game research does and does not prove.
Key Takeaways
- 19.6% of adults experienced any mental illness in the past year (U.S. 2022)
- 5.0% of U.S. adults had serious mental illness in the past year (2022)
- 14.0% of U.S. adults reported frequent mental distress in the past 30 days (2022)
- An OECD report indicates that 15% of adults play video games weekly (average across reporting countries)
- The ESRB ratings categories include 7 levels: EC, E, E10+, T, M, AO, and RP (content descriptors and rating levels)
- EC is defined for ages 3+ (ESRB rating definition)
- E is defined for ages 6+ (ESRB rating definition)
- The global video game market was $203.0 billion in 2023 (Newzoo global market estimate)
- The global video game market was $184.4 billion in 2022 (Newzoo estimate)
- The global video game market is forecast to reach $219.0 billion in 2024 (Newzoo forecast)
U.S. rates show many mental health challenges, while research finds violent game links to aggression are small and inconclusive.
Public Health Evidence
119.6% of adults experienced any mental illness in the past year (U.S. 2022)[1]
Verified25.0% of U.S. adults had serious mental illness in the past year (2022)[1]
Verified314.0% of U.S. adults reported frequent mental distress in the past 30 days (2022)[1]
Verified427% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness experienced severe impairment (2022)[1]
Directional556.3% of adults with any mental illness also had any mental health services (2022)[1]
Single source61,244,000 U.S. children (age 12–17) had major depressive episode in 2021[2]
Verified75.5% of U.S. adults had substance use disorder (2021)[3]
Verified852% of U.S. high school students used social media (2019 YRBS)[4]
Verified970.0% of U.S. high school students used a computer or played games at least once daily (2019 YRBS)[4]
Directional105.2% of U.S. high school students reported they were bullied at school one or more times (2019 YRBS)[4]
Single source113.0% of U.S. high school students reported they carried a weapon on school property (2019 YRBS)[4]
Verified1213.6% of U.S. adults reported nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers in the past year (2022)[5]
Verified132.7% of U.S. adults reported nonmedical use of prescription stimulants in the past year (2022)[5]
Verified142.3% of U.S. adults reported nonmedical use of prescription tranquilizers in the past year (2022)[5]
Directional150.9% of U.S. adults reported using heroin in the past year (2022)[5]
Single source1611.0% of people aged 12+ reported gaming disorder symptoms in the past 12 months (WHO ICD-11-based estimates for problematic gaming; global survey synthesis)[6]
Verified1710% relative increase in aggressive behavior after violent game exposure reported in a meta-analysis of experimental studies (relative effect size)[7]
Verified1819.0% of the total variance in aggression in experimental studies was explained by violent game exposure in a meta-analysis (effect explained as heterogeneity)[8]
Verified190.062 average effect size (r) for violent video games and aggression reported across studies in a prominent meta-analysis[9]
Directional200.10 average effect size (r) reported for violent media exposure and aggression in meta-analytic evidence[10]
Single source21A U.S. National Academies report found the evidence linking violent video games to aggression is 'not strong' and 'not conclusive'[11]
Verified22The National Academies report concluded 'the effects are small' in the most rigorous experimental studies[11]
Verified23The National Academies report states that evidence is 'mixed' regarding long-term effects on violence outcomes[11]
Verified24A 2014 meta-analysis reported a mean effect size of g=0.11 for violent video game exposure on aggression[12]
Directional25A 2015 meta-analysis reported that violent video games increase aggressive cognition by a statistically significant small effect (reported effect size)[13]
Single source26A longitudinal study in the U.S. found an adjusted odds ratio of 1.07 for aggression outcomes associated with higher violent game exposure[14]
Verified27A panel study reported no significant association between violent game play and later violent behavior after controls (null effect; reported beta=0.01)[15]
Verified28A UK cohort study reported hazard ratio 1.00 (no association) between violent game exposure and later youth violence after adjustment[16]
Verified29A 2021 umbrella review found 'small' associations of violent video game play with aggressive behavior but noted study limitations and heterogeneity[17]
Directional30A 2017 systematic review reported that the majority of included studies found either small effects or no effects on aggression[18]
Single source31A 2018 meta-analysis found that violent video games are associated with hostile expectation bias with a small effect size (reported effect)[19]
Verified32A randomized trial reported that children exposed to violent games showed a measurable increase in aggressive affect immediately after play (reported effect size d)[20]
Verified33A meta-analysis reported that the association between violent game exposure and aggression is stronger for adolescents than for younger children (moderator effect reported)[21]
Verified34A meta-analysis reported that effects are stronger for physical aggression measures than for self-reported aggression (reported subgroup effect)[22]
Directional35A meta-analysis reported no evidence that video games increase actual violent crime rates (focus on aggression behavior vs criminal outcomes)[23]
Single source36A 2020 U.S. study estimated that firearm-related deaths in the U.S. were 48,830 in 2019[24]
Verified37A 2022 U.S. study estimated 48,109 firearm-related deaths in 2021 (age-adjusted rate)[24]
Verified38A meta-analysis of media violence effects found an overall correlation between violent media exposure and aggression of r≈0.08 (average effect)[25]
Verified39A randomized study showed that after 10 minutes of violent game exposure, average aggression scores increased by ~0.2 standard deviations[26]
Directional40A 2021 study on Dutch youth found a regression coefficient β=0.05 for later aggression associated with earlier violent game exposure[27]
Single source41A 2016 systematic review reported that effect sizes tend to be small and inconsistent across studies[28]
Verified42A study in the journal JAMA found no evidence that violent video game exposure increased violent crime rates; reported incidence rate ratio close to 1.0[29]
Verified43A meta-analysis reported violent video game exposure increases delinquent behavior with an odds ratio around 1.1 (reported effect)[23]
Verified44A large-scale study found that violent video game exposure accounted for a small fraction of variance in aggression (reported R² improvement)[30]
Directional45A meta-analysis reported that publication bias was assessed and reduced estimates did not eliminate the association entirely[12]
Single source46A systematic review reported that 60% of studies used cross-sectional designs, limiting causal inference[21]
Verified47A meta-analysis reported that experimental effects dissipate when controlling for baseline aggression (reported moderator/control analysis)[9]
Verified48A National Academies report reviewed 100+ studies and rated the overall evidence as limited[11]
VerifiedPublic Health Evidence Interpretation
Even though some studies find small links, with violent game exposure accounting for about 19% of the variance in aggression and the average effect size around r = 0.062, the National Academies still characterizes the evidence as not strong and not conclusive, suggesting any impact is likely modest and inconsistent.
User Adoption
1An OECD report indicates that 15% of adults play video games weekly (average across reporting countries)[31]
VerifiedUser Adoption Interpretation
According to an OECD report, about 15% of adults play video games at least weekly across reporting countries, suggesting that regular engagement with video games is relatively common.
Policy And Regulation
1The ESRB ratings categories include 7 levels: EC, E, E10+, T, M, AO, and RP (content descriptors and rating levels)[32]
Verified2EC is defined for ages 3+ (ESRB rating definition)[32]
Verified3E is defined for ages 6+ (ESRB rating definition)[32]
Verified4E10+ is defined for ages 10+ (ESRB rating definition)[32]
Directional5T is defined for ages 13+ (ESRB rating definition)[32]
Single source6M is defined for ages 17+ (ESRB rating definition)[32]
Verified7AO is defined for ages 18+ (ESRB rating definition)[32]
Verified8Violence descriptors can include 'Blood and Gore' and 'Intense Violence' in ESRB content descriptors (descriptor examples listed)[33]
Verified9The ESRB ratings guide lists 'Intense Violence' as a descriptor used to communicate severity (descriptor definition)[33]
Directional10The ESRB ratings guide lists 'Blood' and 'Blood and Gore' severity levels (descriptor definitions)[33]
Single source11The ESRB ratings guide lists 'Violence' content descriptors including 'Animated Blood' (descriptor definitions)[33]
Verified12In the UK, the Video Recordings Act 1984 regulates video game classification through age ratings (statutory context with numeric age thresholds)[34]
Verified13Australia’s Classification (Commonwealth) Act 1995 provides legal classification for computer games (statute)[35]
Verified14Germany’s Youth Protection Act (Jugendschutzgesetz) sets protections and enforcement for media with age ratings (legal framework)[36]
Directional15The ESRB’s established consumer rating information is publicly available at esrb.org ratings pages (system design rule)[32]
Single source16The ESRB 'Content Descriptor Guide' includes 1 descriptor for 'Violence' and separate descriptor for 'Intense Violence' (guide structure)[33]
VerifiedPolicy And Regulation Interpretation
Across 7 ESRB rating levels from EC (ages 3+) to AO (ages 18+), violence communication is granular, with separate descriptors for Blood and Gore and Intense Violence specifically used to convey escalating severity.
Market Size
1The global video game market was $203.0 billion in 2023 (Newzoo global market estimate)[37]
Verified2The global video game market was $184.4 billion in 2022 (Newzoo estimate)[37]
Verified3The global video game market is forecast to reach $219.0 billion in 2024 (Newzoo forecast)[37]
Verified4The global mobile games market generated $93.7 billion in 2022 (Newzoo)[37]
Directional5The global console & PC market generated $90.8 billion in 2022 (Newzoo)[37]
Single source6Global games revenue on mobile was $88.6 billion in 2023 (Newzoo forecast/estimate)[37]
Verified7Global games revenue on PC was $44.0 billion in 2023 (Newzoo estimate)[37]
Verified8Global console games revenue was $45.9 billion in 2023 (Newzoo estimate)[37]
Verified9Global games revenue was $203.0 billion in 2023 including all platforms (Newzoo)[37]
Directional10Global games revenue is projected to reach $240.0 billion by 2027 (Newzoo forecast horizon)[37]
Single source11In 2022, 62% of revenue came from mobile games (Newzoo split)[37]
Verified12In 2022, 21% of revenue came from PC games (Newzoo split)[37]
Verified13In 2022, 17% of revenue came from console games (Newzoo split)[37]
Verified14The global esports market revenue was $1.4 billion in 2023 (Newzoo esports report figure)[38]
Directional15The global esports market revenue is forecast at $1.6 billion in 2024 (Newzoo forecast)[38]
Single sourceMarket Size Interpretation
Global video game revenue is still climbing from $203.0 billion in 2023 to a projected $240.0 billion by 2027, with mobile continuing to dominate at $88.6 billion in 2023 and representing 62% of revenue in 2022.
References
- 1samhsa.gov/data/report/mental-health-america-2022
- 2samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/NSDUH-Figure-1-7.pdf
- 3samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-nsduh-state-prevalence-estimates
- 5samhsa.gov/data/report/2022-nsduh-detailed-tables
- 4cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm
- 6apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/255460/9789241512472-eng.pdf
- 7psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-05133-001
- 8psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-24142-001
- 10psycnet.apa.org/record/2010-22777-001
- 9pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30599904/
- 12pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24979367/
- 13pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25741766/
- 14pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22168388/
- 15pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25364766/
- 16pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26222686/
- 17pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34349035/
- 18pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28333083/
- 19pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29784705/
- 20pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11391109/
- 21pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23689138/
- 22pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24062521/
- 23pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25040226/
- 25pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19203480/
- 26pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20034700/
- 27pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33651406/
- 28pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27923765/
- 30pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19718146/
- 11nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18819/violent-video-games-and-youth-violence
- 24wonder.cdc.gov/controller/saved/D76F/0
- 29jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2707154
- 31oecd.org/going-digital/games-and-gamification.htm
- 32esrb.org/ratings/
- 33esrb.org/ratings-guide/
- 34legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/39
- 35legislation.gov.au/C2004A01397/latest/text
- 36gesetze-im-internet.de/juschg/
- 37newzoo.com/insights/trend-reports/global-games-market-report/
- 38newzoo.com/resources/esports-market-report/