Does video game playing stimulate mindfulness?
Óscar Díaz-Chica, Alejandro Tapia-Frade, Diana Santos Fernández
Human Technology December 30, 2025 DOI: 10.14254/1795-6889.2025.21-3.3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 225 |
| Population | Mostly Spanish video game players aged 17 to 66 years |
| Measures | Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Among non-meditating players, time spent playing video games was slightly and directly associated with higher trait mindfulness. Greater video game experience was positively associated, except in meditating players, with the FFMQ dimensions of not-judging inner experience, describing, and non-reactivity to inner experience, with the not-judging association particularly strong among players with ADHD. |
Abstract
The video game industry is a thriving sector where the effects derived from its consumption are studied, among other aspects. This research analyzes the possible incidence of commercial video games on the mindfulness trait of players. To this end, a survey was carried out on a sample, mostly Spanish, of 225 people aged 17 to 66 years. The measure used to assess the mindfulness trait is the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Among the main results obtained, the length of time spent playing video games is slightly and directly associated with a higher mindfulness trait among non-meditating players. On the other hand, a positive association is also detected between the greater experience with video games, except for meditating players, with the FFMQ dimensions: not-judging inner experience dimension (particularly strong correlation in ADHD players), describing and non-reactivity to inner experience dimension.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
and 2 more in the library