Recent scientific research suggests that good games improve players’ sense of well being by giving them feelings of independence, competence and connectedness to people. The games allow people to feel effective and rule their own universe in a way that real life often does not.

Read the full article at:
http://health.yahoo.com/news/171041;_ylt=A0Je5_6asbFFIPwAjhtLvs8F

P.S. Note to Mom: I was right all along 🙂