UK Women Mobile Gamers Experience Guilt, Reveals New Study

A recent study reveals that nearly one-third of female mobile gamers in the UK experience feelings of guilt when playing games. Conducted by Dr Steph Rennick from the University of Stirling and Dr Seán Roberts from Cardiff University, in collaboration with Swedish gaming studio Undone Games, the study surveyed 1,000 female mobile gamers in the UK to understand their attitudes towards gaming. The results show that 28% of participants admitted to feeling guilty about dedicating time to gaming, with older players less likely to experience shame compared to younger players. Notably, women who kept their gaming habits a secret from friends and family were three times more likely to feel guilty, at 63%, compared to those who did not, at 23%. Additionally, women who looked forward to playing games were 9% more likely to feel guilty, at 34%, compared to those who did not, at 25%. The study also found that feelings of shame were closely tied to whether women identified with gaming culture. Sixty percent of respondents did not consider themselves 'gamers' due to not playing enough games, and women who perceived gaming as a male-dominated activity were twice as likely to feel shame, at 46%, compared to those who did not, at 23%. In contrast, women who believed that occasional gaming made someone a 'gamer' felt 42% less shame. Dr Rennick noted that the study highlights many women feeling excluded from video game culture, with significant numbers experiencing guilt and worrying about others' perceptions of their gaming habits. Interestingly, feelings of guilt or secrecy about gaming did not correlate with the amount of time spent playing games. The study's findings suggest that while guilt and shame may not directly impact the amount of time women spend gaming, they can have a negative effect on their overall experience. The research also uncovered correlations between guilt and barriers related to game marketing, with 41% of women more likely to feel guilty if they were unsure about which games to try, and 44% feeling more shame if they thought games were too violent. The report emphasizes that these findings do not necessarily indicate that women feel more guilty about playing mobile games than other genders. Instead, the results suggest that many UK women feel excluded from video game culture, and this exclusion can be a significant barrier to playing mobile games or being open about their gaming habits. As Dr Roberts explained, women tend to spend less time playing games if they feel they do not fit into gaming culture, but they spend more time playing if they are proud of their gaming achievements. This suggests that addressing the root causes of guilt and shame, such as reducing leisure inequality between men and women, may be necessary to remove barriers to play for women.