Exploring Health in Digital Spaces with Dr. Regan Mandryk
Dr. Regan Mandryk—Professor of Computer Science, Canada Research Chair in Digital Gaming and Immersive Social Technologies, and IALH Research Fellow – examines the multi-faceted relationships between humans and technology, and how these relationships can impact mental health both positively and negatively by breaking down conceptions about the effects of video games on mental health and striving to help people interact with video games in a mindful way.
Joined by a team based in Australia and the Netherlands, Dr. Mandryk is currently working on a project exploring the influence of digital games on the health and wellbeing of young adults. Part of this project involves a longitudinal study on adolescents in Grade Nine, following up on longitudinal research with 16–25 year olds which shows that problematic gaming is symptomatic of an underlying issue, rather than a direct cause of unhappiness. Additionally, the team is teaching younger players self-management when it comes to gaming, such as how to regulate problematic gaming behaviours including obsessive passion and online social toxicity.
In a recent interview with IX Interactions, Dr. Mandryk discussed starting the Salish Sea Chapter of SIGCHI (Special Interest Group on Computer–Human Interaction). This group unites BC researchers working in technology and computer science, with plans to host future seminar series, writing retreats, hackathons, and more. In this interview, she states, “I'm very much a person who enjoys computational, statistical, and technical work, but I always wanted to apply these skills to benefit humanity. If we are not asking for technology innovation to benefit people or the planet, why are we even considering it? Humans are complex, and there are many unique challenges in working at the intersection of technology and people that can fuel a lifelong career.”