Dungeons and Dragons™ (D&D) as a Brief Intervention for College Students

This study investigated the effect of Dungeons and Dragons™ (D&D), on social connection, stress, self-esteem, and adjustment to college among first semester, first year students. D&D participants (n = 18) attended five one-hour weekly D&D sessions, whereas the comparison group (n = 10) went through their first semester of college with no intervention but completed the study measures at the same points in time as the D&D participants. All participants completed measures of social connection, adjustment to college, college stress, and self-esteem within the first two months of their first semester of college and again six weeks later. Results were analyzed using 2 × 2 mixed model ANOVAs. Participants in the D&D group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in college stress and significantly greater personal-emotional adjustment to college than the comparison group. Given the anecdotal evidence on the benefits of D&D, it is important to continue examining evidential support for a game with increasing recreational popularity and potential therapeutic/interventional benefits.