Once upon a time, our society was not as reliant and revolved around technology, so typical marital problems revolved around different issues. In modern times, however, technology has gone from a playful pastime to an obsession for many, and this obsession can sometimes lead to relational problems.
There is a major difference between enjoying a hobby and becoming or acting in alignment with addiction. While video games can be a fun pastime, they can also become a real addiction, and with addiction comes problems. One study produced by Divorce Online found that video games have played a role in 15% of divorce cases.
Ryan Hansen, a psychologist at Reset Button Consulting in Columbus, Ohio, agrees that video gaming can go too far and when it does, it can be detrimental to a marriage.
“It’s really hard to imagine when you’re playing 20 or 30 hours a week that that isn’t impacting some area of your life,” Hansen said. “If you’re only playing one or two hours a week, you’re probably doing pretty good. It’s just the gray area in the middle that’s a little tricky to sort out.”
We often joke or focus on our children’s screen time, but what about our own? When kids are involved in the marriage and one or both partners spend much of their time tied down to a screen, they are setting an example for their kids to follow in their footsteps. If we cannot control our own screen time how can we expect our kids to?
More and more women are coming out and complaining about how much time they spend around the house, while their husband sits at their computer or Xbox for hours each day. Gaming is meant to be a fun hobby or even an escape, but when your escape becomes your main focus, a lot can start to fall behind, including your marriage and your family.
On the other hand, another study noted that when couples game together, it can have a positive impact. So, the main problem that gaming seems to pose to marriage is that it divides couples and families. When gaming begins to take away from your ability to function as a partner, it can wreak havoc. If you must game, then it’s highly suggested to try to game together or at least work out a schedule that allows for a time focused on your marriage, family, and other commitments in your life.