Study Finds Religion, Spirituality May Protect Against Depression Among Young Adult Online Gamers

While many engage in online gaming to facilitate social connection, the activity can also contribute to other online activities that could increase symptoms of internet addiction and depression.

University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions researcher Lindsay A. Lundeen and John R. McCall of Auburn University have found that religion and spirituality may act as a protective factor against internet addiction and depression. An American Counseling Association (ACA) press release about their new study, "Predicting major depression among diverse online gamers: The role of internet addiction and spirituality," notes that spirituality can be defined as providing meaning, social support and reduced feelings of isolation.

Lundeen and McCall, both online gamers themselves, examined how internet addiction is affecting players. They surveyed 340 diverse gamers aged 18-24. The sample was composed of individuals who were predominantly Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino(a/e), White and female who played an online game at least once weekly, according to the ACA press release.

The study appeared in the Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, a publication of the ACA. It will also be highlighted in ACA's magazine, Counseling Today, in its March 2026 print edition.

"We found that gamers who struggled to limit, cut back or control their internet use were 35% more likely to experience symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to gamers who did not struggle to control internet activity," Lundeen said in a press release from the ACA. "At the same time, gamers in the study who identified as religious or spiritual were 62% less likely to experience MDD symptoms, even if they experienced difficulties moderating Internet use."

The study demonstrates that spiritual or religious affiliation, even beyond religious practices, can buffer against MDD symptoms. Spiritual affiliation, researchers say, can include "meaning-making" (the process of how people interpret, understand or make sense of life events), engaging in forgiveness, or finding belonging.

"Our research supports other literature about how internet use of any kind can impact mental health, especially if individuals are not intentional about why they are on the internet," McCall explained in the ACA release.

Lundeen and McCall say their research underscores the importance for counselors to understand how people use the internet and the purpose that usage serves for each individual. When tailoring treatment plans for online gamers with symptoms of MDD or internet addiction, they say counselors should consider how religion or spirituality could be helpful or harmful to the client.

Founded in 1952, the ACA is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession.