Study: 'Pokémon GO' Players are Happy People

By KM Diaz / 1492606898
(Photo : YouTube) A new study suggests that playing "Pokémon GO" could make the players happier.

A new study suggests that playing "Pokémon GO" could make people happier.

"Pokémon GO" was launched in July 2016, and Niantic claims around 65-million users are playing the game. The game received a new update recently including traditional Chinese language and new Pokémon.

Now, the researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison say that playing "Pokémon GO" will make people positive, friendly, and physically active. The study was published in the journal Media Psychology.

The researchers studied 400 participants three weeks after the release of the game and asked about their social and emotional wellbeing, as well as the levels of their physical activity.

According to Alex James Bonus, a study participant and UW-Madison graduate, the public judgments about "Pokémon GO" are often incorrectly based on reported cases of people running into trees or trespassing. However, people must also see that players are enjoying and having a good time.

Bonus further added that some people look at the game as a negative social experience that detracts people from things, yet in the study, large groups of players revealed their positive experiences of playing the game.

The players reportedly felt that their life was more worthwhile while playing "Pokémon GO," and their confidence is boosted by meeting new people while capturing a Pokémon. The participants also said that the game strengthened their existing and past relationships, making them more resilient with a positive outlook on life.