Universität zu Köln

Rüth, Marco ORCID: 0000-0002-9923-002X, Bachmayer, Raoul and Kaspar, Kai ORCID: 0000-0002-5092-6798 (2025). Learning about depression by watching gaming videos: a case study on the potential of digital games for psychoeducation and destigmatization. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. pp. 1-11. Frontiers. ISSN 1664-1078

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Abstract

[Artikel-Nr. 1585571] Introduction: People with depression can also suffer from stigmatization related to depression. Psychoeducation is one way to alleviate stigmatization (destigmatization), so that particularly people without depression become more aware of depressive symptoms and can empathize better with depressed people. Here, we scrutinize the potential of digital games to support psychoeducation and destigmatization of depression. Methods: We conducted a mixed methods online study with 117 participants. In the intervention phase, participants watched gaming videos and noted down aspects that had left a lasting impression on them. In the evaluation phase, we used open-ended items and qualitative content analysis to investigate participants’ learning outcomes. We used quantitative scales to examine different facets of participants’ learning motivation, their narrative engagement, and destigmatization types. Results: Watching gaming videos resulted in several learning outcomes, including cognitive as well as emotional effects. Given a high general learning motivation regarding the topic depression and moderate narrative engagement in our sample, participants also reported strong conviction that such games can be an interesting and relevant medium to learn about depression. A multiple regression analysis revealed that 51% of variance in participants’ personal thoughts about depression could be explained by our proposed model. Males had a higher personal stigma than females. Personal stigma was also negatively related to participants’ depression literacy and their general learning motivation regarding the topic depression. Discussion: Our findings indicate that watching videos of digital games can support psychoeducation and destigmatization by reaching a broad audience and sensitizing people about mental illnesses such as depression.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Rüth, Marco UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9923-002X UNSPECIFIED Bachmayer, Raoul UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kaspar, Kai UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5092-6798 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-799078
Identification Number:	10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1585571
Journal or Publication Title:	Frontiers in Psychology
Volume:	16
Page Range:	pp. 1-11
Date:	26 May 2025
Publisher:	Frontiers
ISSN:	1664-1078
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Human Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Human Sciences > Department Psychologie
Subjects:	Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language digital games English depression, psychoeducation English stigmatization English learning motivation English narrative engagement English mixed methods English
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/79907