Female gamers feel guilt and shame about their hobby, a study has revealed.

Data found 29 per cent of women experience guilt, while one in six kept gaming a secret for fear of judgment and a third were embarrassed to even call themselves a gamer.

Despite 51 per cent of women now gaming compared to 53 per cent of men, many are still underrepresented and excluded from the traditionally male pastime.

Nevertheless, 41 per cent of women surveyed said they felt playing games was a daily highlight in their lives.

The research was led by Dr Steph Rennick, lecturer in interactive media at the University of Stirling, and Dr Seán Roberts, lecturer in communication at Cardiff University, in partnership with Swedish gaming studio Undone Games.

Dr Rennick said: "The study shows many women feel excluded from video game culture, with significant numbers feeling guilty about playing and worrying about what others think of them taking time to play games.

"Interestingly, feeling guilty or keeping secrets about gaming did not correlate with how much time women spent playing games.

"While we thought feelings of guilt or shame would have a negative impact on the amount of time women spent playing, we didn't find such a connection. Those who feel guilty or keep secrets don't play less, but they feel worse." The study surveyed 1000 women across the UK who play mobile games, the most popular way for women to play.

Younger players were more likely to feel guilty about playing.

Those aged 16-24 were three times more likely to strongly agree they feel guilty about taking time to play than those aged 55+.

Guilt also seemed related to whether women felt they fit into gaming culture, with 60 per cent saying they do not play enough games to consider themselves gamers.

Women were twice as likely to feel guilty if they thought gaming was mainly a male pastime or if they said they would be embarrassed to call themselves a gamer.

Dr Roberts said: "Women tend to spend less time playing if they feel they don't fit into gaming culture.

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"For example if they believe gaming is a male pastime, or that they don't play enough games, are embarrassed to call themselves a gamer, or think video games are too violent.

"In contrast, women spend more time playing if they are proud of their gaming achievements. While these clearly negatively impact women gamers, they may not be the root of the problem.

"Instead, removing barriers to play for women may require deeper changes such as reducing leisure inequality between men and women."