Building Resilience Playing Tabletop Role-playing Games
Date
2025-06-25
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0009-0004-0904-4795
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
This study explored emerging adults’ perceptions of the benefits and challenges of, and experiences using, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) to support their social and emotional health and wellbeing. Resiliency theory, which refers to a dynamic process by which positive adaptation is achieved within the context of significant adversity (Luthar et al., 2000; Masten, 2001; Masten & Powell, 2003; Schwarz, 2018), was the theoretical background for the study. The ten participants ranged from 18 to 29 years old, varied in gender and cultural background, had at least six months experience playing TTRPGs, and played at least once every two weeks. Data was analysed through a qualitative interpretive approach using reflexive thematic analysis to gain understanding of players’ experiences and perceptions of the benefits and challenges of TTRPGs (Braun & Clarke, 2022). Analysis resulted in five major themes related to the core concepts of resiliency theory, emerging adulthood, and participants’ lived experiences and perspectives as TTRPG players. These themes revealed TTRPGs as beneficial to participants’ sense of community, development of social and emotional skills, and management of stress and mental health difficulties, while also highlighting challenges faced by TTRPG players and expectations of different roles found at the game table. The study concludes with a discussion on the practical implications of the results, strengths and limitations of the study, and recommendations for future research.
Description
Keywords
tabletop role-playing games, TTRPGs, emerging adulthood, resilience
Citation
Degree
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Department
Educational Psychology and Special Education
Program
School and Counselling Psychology