Playing online games can help boost the social skills of people with autism -- a neurodevelopmental disorder, according to a study on Tuesday.
Researchers from the
University of Plymouth in the UK in a small study engaged eight people with
autism in a popular role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons played both in
person and online.
The study, published in
the journal Autism, sought to investigate whether placing people in a social
setting where they felt at ease could improve their performance.
"There are many
myths and misconceptions about autism, with some of the biggest suggesting that
those with it aren't socially motivated, or don't have any imagination.
Dungeons and Dragons goes against all that, centering around working together
in a team, all of which takes place in a completely imaginary
environment," said lead author Dr. Gray Atherton, Lecturer in Psychology
at the University of Plymouth.
Following a brief
introduction to the game, the players spent six weeks acting out situations in
small groups, all under the supervision of a game master.
The researchers then
conducted one-on-one interviews with them to find out how their autism may have
affected their experiences and whether or not playing the game had an effect on
their lives.
The participants claimed
they frequently concealed or masked their autism symptoms.
Playing the game also
gave them access to a welcoming atmosphere where they instantly felt a natural
affinity with other players.
In addition, the
participants believed that they could apply some of the characteristics of
their new persona outside of the game, which changed how they felt about
themselves.
"Those taking part
in our study saw the game as a breath of fresh air, a chance to take on a
different persona and share experiences outside of an often-challenging
reality. That sense of escapism made them feel incredibly comfortable, and many
of them said they were now trying to apply aspects of it in their daily
lives," Atherton added.
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