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"All those hours spent wielding a sword as your avatar in a fictional universe might be hurting your marriage, according to a forthcoming study. \nBrigham Young University researchers found that 75% of spouses married to people who partake in role-playing games wish that their gaming spouses spent less time playing and more timing working on the relationship.  \nSays Recreation Management Professor Neil Lundberg: \"It's common knowledge that many couples experience challenges around gaming. Particularly when husbands are heavy gamers, it clearly has a negative impact on their marriages.\"\nOn the other hand though, spouses who play together stay together \u2014 or reported being happier than when just one played. Seventy-six percent of couples who both play said gaming actually had a positive effect on their relationship. \n\nSEE ALSO: Did Words With Friends Make You More Than Friends?\n\"Not all video games are bad,\" said Michelle Ahlstrom, a graduate student involved in the study. \"Some are fun leisure pursuits that when played together may strengthen your relationships with others. With any type of gaming, consider the content of the game. Consider what you are doing in the game, how much time it is taking, how it is affecting you, your schooling, work, sleep, body and especially how it is affecting your spouse and marital relationship.\"\nCheck out the video above to learn more about the study. And tell us in the comments: Do your gaming habits affect your relationships? And if so, how so?\nThumbnail image courtesy of Flickr, Adactio\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2012/02/14/rpg-games-marriage/>