Electronic Arts, Inc. and Dr. Kathleen Hall of the Stress Institute in Atlanta have partnered up to spread the word that five minutes a day of “casual” game playing can reduce stress levels among college students.
Pogo.com, a national gaming Web site that attracts between 11 and 13 million online visitors per month, offers more than 100 free online games.
EA acquired Pogo.com in 2001 and launched a premium subscription service five years ago for $5.99 per month called Club Pogo, which attracted 1.6 million subscribers, said Honey Hamilton, a representative for EA and Pogo. The Web site is ad-supported.
“People come to Pogo to play games, but what’s different about Pogo is that when you play games, you can actually chat while you play,” said Hamilton. “People can talk about their day, what’s bothering them – people even help each other out with homework. I once got a cookie recipe while playing dominoes.”
Hamilton said many people still don’t know about the Pogo Web site, but she’s making it her mission to raise awareness about the potential positive impact playing Pogo games can have on students. She said that on average, Pogo players tend to be in their late 20s to early 30s.
“People don’t know about the community aspect of it,” said Hamilton. “It’s about finding a place that’s safe where you can meet other people and de-stress. It’s really important for students to take some time to zone out or to just talk to somebody.”
EA and Pogo state that playing games on the Web site can lead to lower stress levels, and that students who take a break from studying to clear the mind are less likely to experience stress during tests.
University psychology professor Sara Hodges, who had not heard of the Pogo site, said it may be that smarter, more motivated students are going to Pogo. She implied correlation does not equal causality.
Hodges said that playing games on Pogo may be affecting positive exam performances among college students, but it’s hard to conclude that online gaming is making students smarter or lowering stress levels.
“I’d want to see the direct measure of reduced stress,” said Hodges, who had not looked at Pogo’s research. Hodges said it may be possible, but cautioned against jumping to conclusions without the concrete evidence to back up the claims.
Hamilton said the decision to partner with Hall, the CEO and founder of the Stress Institute, came when she and Hall attended the same convention.
“We were both very interested in brain games and stress reduction,” said Hamilton. “We ended up partnering with her. She saw Pogo.com and believed in the great things we have to offer.”
Take 5 to Play, a program EA and Hall created together, focuses on taking the few minutes students have per day to do something healthy that they enjoy.
In an e-mail, Hall said “players that take a break from their hectic lives and let the stress of the day melt away by playing casual games lead healthier and more balanced lives. Playing games such as those found at Pogo.com provide needed mental breaks, reduce stress and restore the mind and body connection.”
Hamilton said that in an internal poll EA conducted on the Pogo Web site, 90 percent of the site’s visitors answered that the reason they visit Pogo is to “de-stress.”
“Chronic stress is the driver of most disease and can destroy a person’s life if you do not learn how to handle the stresses of your life,” said Hall. “We have lots of new science in the field of stress, depression and happiness.”
University freshman Sara Tribble said generally, she listens to music to de-stress. She takes about two hours a day to relax, calm down and recollect herself.
“Sometimes my friends freak out because they have so much to do,” said Tribble.
Tribble said she takes the time to unwind because she has to.
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