New Study: Dungeons & Dragons Provides Real Benefits To People With Disabilities And The Elderly

New Study: Dungeons & Dragons Provides Real Benefits To People With Disabilities And The Elderly

New Study: Dungeons & Dragons Provides Real Benefits To People With Disabilities And The Elderly Dungeons & Dragons, a table-top roleplaying game beloved by many since 1974 — and made especially popular by things like “Stranger Things” and “Critical Role” in recent years — may be more than just a hobby. In fact, according to Florida International University’s Emily Messina, it’s “serious leisure.”  “Serious leisure” refers to an activity that demands skill, commitment, and personal fulfillment, Messina defined. With the intricate world-building, score-keeping, and character development required of D&D, she said, it’s a blueprint for serious leisure.  Dungeons & Dragons is more than just a game, Messina believes. Photo by 2H Media on Unsplash Messina, who is an associate professor and program director at FIU’s Rehabilitation and Recreational Therapy Program, studies how games promote identity-building and connection in all kinds of demographics.  Her latest research, publishe…