Volume 116

In the context of a digitally saturated society, Generation Z, those born after the 1990s, has grown up immersed in the internet and video game environments. Among these, violent video games (VVGs) have raised widespread concerns for their potential impacts on cognition, behavior, and mental health. Numerous studies have demonstrated that frequent exposure to violent content may increase adolescent aggression, suppress prefrontal cortex function, and elevate physiological stress levels. However, much of the existing literature centers on individual-level effects, with insufficient attention to the regulatory influence of broader social ecological systems and to cross-cultural differences in these mechanisms. This paper analyzes the multifaceted developmental influences of violent video games on Generation Z and to explore the buffering effects of social support in risk intervention. By reviewing relevant literature and synthesizing findings via the General Aggression Model (GAM) and social learning theory, it integrates evidence from neuroimaging, physiological stress responses, and behavioral patterns. The results show that violent video games greatly impair adolescents’ impulse control, sleep quality, and emotional regulation. Nevertheless, family values, school media literacy, and community digital programs play a protective role against risks, especially in collectivist cultures. Thus, effective teen mental health support requires multi-level, socially systemic interventions.

Show more