Top

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Published in:

01-08-2021 | Original Article

Identification of Avatar Mediates the Associations Between Motivations of Gaming and Internet Gaming Disorder Among the Malaysian Youth

Authors: Soo Ting T’ng, Kee Pau

Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction | Issue 4/2021

Abstract

Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre has been expanding rapidly in Malaysia. However, the nature of this genre is addictive. Research in the area of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) among gamers of this genre is relatively new, signifying a substantial literature gap to be filled. The aim of the present study was to examine the selected determinants (i.e., motivations of gaming and identification of avatar) of IGD among MOBA gamers. The mediating role of identification of avatar in the associations between motivations of gaming (i.e., achievement, socialization, and immersion) and IGD was also investigated. A total of 1175 gamers were recruited through MOBA online groups in social media. Males were accounted for 75.20% (n = 808) and aged between 18 and 29 (M_age = 22.19 years, SD = 3.30). The findings revealed that motivation of achievement, motivation of immersion, and identification of avatar positively predict IGD, whereas motivation of socialization negatively predicts IGD among MOBA gamers. Identification of avatar was found as a significant mediator of the relationships between motivations of gaming and IGD. A large effect size was found with a total of 45% of variances explained by each determinant in the study. Overall, the findings of the present study provided empirical evidence for the underlying determinants of IGD. Intensive collaboration from various parties should be established for diminishing the potential adverse impacts of IGD on youth nowadays.

Aarseth, E., Bean, A. M., Boonen, H., Colder Carras, M., Coulson, M., Das, D., et al. (2017). Scholars’ open debate paper on the World Health Organization ICD-11 gaming disorder proposal. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(3), 267–270. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.5.2016.088.View ArticlePubMedPubMed Central
Altintas, E., Karaca, Y., Hullaert, T., & Tassi, P. (2019). Sleep quality and video game playing: effect of intensity of video game playing and mental health. Psychiatry Research, 273, 487–492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.01.030.View ArticlePubMed
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders - text revision (5th ed.). Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing.View Article
Bargeron, A. H., & Hormes, J. M. (2017). Psychosocial correlates of Internet gaming disorder: psychopathology, life satisfaction, and impulsivity. Computers in Human Behavior, 68, 388–394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.029.View Article
Barnett, J., & Coulson, M. (2010). Virtually real: a psychological perspective on massively multiplayer online games. Review of General Psychology, 14(2), 167–179. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019442.View Article
Beard, C. L., & Wickham, R. E. (2016). Gaming-contingent self-worth, gaming motivation, and Internet gaming disorder. Computers in Human Behavior, 61, 507–515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.046.View Article
Billieux, J., Van der Linder, M., Achab, S., Khazaal, Y., Paraskevopoulous, L., Zullino, D., … Thorens, G. (2013). Why do you play World of Warcraft? Anin-depth exploration of self-reported motivations to play online and in-game behaviours in the virtual world of Azeroth. Computers in Human Behavior, 29, 103–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.07.021
Blinka, L., & Mikuška, J. (2014). The role of social motivation and sociability of gamers in online game addiction. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.5817/cp2014-2-6.
Bowman, N. D., & Tamborini, R. (2012). Task demand and mood repair: The intervention potential of computer games. New Media & Society, 14(8), 1339–1357. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444812450426.View Article
Caplan, S., Williams, D., & Yee, N. (2009). Problematic Internet use and psychosocial well-being among MMO players. Computers in Human Behavior, 25(6), 1312–1319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2009.06.006.View Article
Carlisle, K. L. (2017). Personality, motivation, and Internet gaming disorder: understanding the addiction (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved August 2, 2019, from https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=chs_etds.
Carras, M. C., Van Rooij, A. J., Van de Mheen, D., Musci, R., Xue, Q.-L., & Mendelson, T. (2017). Video gaming in a hyperconnected world: a cross-sectional study of heavy gaming, problematic gaming symptoms, and online socializing in adolescents. Computers in Human Behavior, 68, 472–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.060.View Article
Chin, W. W. (2010). How to write up and report PLS analyses. In V. Esposito Vinzi, W. W. Chin, J. Henseler, & H. Wang (Eds.), Handbook of partial least squares: concepts, methods and applications (pp. 655–690). Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer.View Article
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). New York: Academic.
Cross, N. A. (2016). The relationship of online gaming addiction with motivations to play and craving (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved August 2, 2019, from https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=bgsu1435084396&disposition=inline.
Daniel, J. (2012). Sampling essentials: Practical guidelines for making sampling choices. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications Ltd..View Article
Eh Wen, N. D. (2015). Positive psychological resources, management responsiveness, and psychological contract violation: a mediating effect of psychological contract breach (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved August 5, 2019, from http://etd.uum.edu.my/5753/2/s93334_02.pdf.
Fang, S. C., Yu, T. K., Yu, T. Y., & Chang, I.-C. (2016). Psychological distance and pro-environmental behavior: an application of behavior model to emerging contaminants in higher education. Journal of Baltic Science Education, 15(6), 759–775. Retrieved August 5, 2019, from http://www.scientiasocialis.lt/jbse/files/pdf/vol15/759-775.Fang_JBSE_Vol.15_No.6.pdf.
Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (4th ed.). London: SAGE Publications Ltd..
Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104.View Article
Garson, G. D. (2016). Partial least squares: Regression, structural equation models. Asheboro: Statistical Publishing Associates.
Godman, M. (2013). Why we do things together: the social motivation for joint action. Philosophical Psychology, 26(4), 588–603. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515089.2012.670905.View Article
Green, C. S., & Bavelier, D. (2012). Learning, attention control and action video games. Current Biology, 22, 197–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2012.02.012.View Article
Griffiths, M. D., & Pontes, H. M. (2019). The future of gaming disorder research and player protection: what role should the video gaming industry and researchers play? International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00110-4
Griffiths, M. D., Van Rooij, A., Kardefelt-Winther, D., Starcevic, V., Király, O., ... Demetrovics, Z. (2016). Working towards an international consensus on criteria for assessing Internet Gaming Disorder: a critical commentary on Petry et al (2014). Addiction, 111, 167–175. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13057
Haider, S., Jabeen, S., & Ahmad, J. (2018). Moderated mediation between work life balance and employee job performance: the role of psychological wellbeing and satisfaction with coworkers. Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 34(1), 29–37. https://doi.org/10.5093/jwop2018a4.View Article
Hasan, Y., Bègue, L., & Bushman, B. J. (2012). Violent video games stress people out and make them more aggressive. Aggressive Behavior, 39(1), 64–70. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21454.View ArticlePubMed
Hefner, D., Klimmt, C., & Vorderer, P. (2007). Identification with the player character as determinant of video game enjoyment. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-74873-1_6.
Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sinkovics, R. R. (2009). The use of partial least squares path modeling in international marketing. New Challenges to International Marketing Advances in International Marketing, 20, 277–319. https://doi.org/10.1108/s1474-7979(2009)0000020014.View Article
Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modelling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8.View Article
Hussain, Z., Williams, G. A., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). An exploratory study of the association between online gaming addiction and enjoyment motivations for playing massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Computers in Human Behavior, 50, 221–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.03.075.View Article
Kaptsis, D., King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., & Gradisar, M. (2016). Withdrawal symptoms in Internet gaming disorder: a systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 43, 58–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2015.11.006.View ArticlePubMed
Kardefelt-Winther, D. (2014). Problematizing excessive online gaming and its psychological predictors. Computers in Human Behavior, 31, 118–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.10.017.View Article
Katz, E., Blumler, J. G., & Gurevitch, M. (1974). Utilization of mass communication by the individual. In J. G. Blumler & E. Katz (Eds.), The uses of mass communications: Current perspectives on gratifications research (p. 1932). Beverly Hills: SAGE Publications Ltd.
Khan, A., & Muqtadir, R. (2016). Motives of problematic and nonproblematic online gaming among adolescents and young adults. Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research, 31(1), 119–138. Retrieved August 3, 2019, from http://www.pjprnip.edu.pk/pjpr/index.php/pjpr/article/view/357/374.
King, D. L., Herd, M. C. E., & Delfabbro, P. H. (2017). Motivational components of tolerance in Internet gaming disorder. Computers in Human Behavior, 78, 133–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.09.023.View Article
Klimmit, C., Hefner, D., & Vorderer, P. (2009). The video game experience as “true” identification: a theory of enjoyable alterations of players’ self-perception. Communication Theory, 19, 351–373. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2009.01347.x.View Article
Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2012). Online gaming addiction in children and adolescents: a review of empirical research. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 1(1), 3–22. https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.1.2012.1.1.View ArticlePubMed
Kuss, D. J., Louws, J., & Wiers, R. W. (2012). Online gaming addiction? Motives predict addictive play behavior in massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 15(9), 480–485. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2012.0034.View ArticlePubMed
Kuss, D. J., Griffiths, M. D., & Pontes, H. M. (2017). Chaos and confusion in DSM-5 diagnosis of Internet gaming disorder: issues, concerns, and recommendations for clarity in the field. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6, 103–109. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.5.2016.062.View ArticlePubMedPubMed Central
Laconi, S., Pirès, S., & Chabrol, H. (2017). Internet gaming disorder, motives, game genres and psychopathology. Computers in Human Behavior, 75, 652–659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.06.012.View Article
Lee, H. J. (2007). Self-awareness for virtuality and self-concept for adolescence – based on the user and avatar characters in the cyberspace. Journal of Korea Design Knowledge, 15, 469–479.
Lee, Z. W. Y., Cheung, C. M. K., & Chan, T. K. H. (2015). Massively multiplayer online game addiction: Instrument development and validation. Information Management, 52(4), 413–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2015.01.006.View Article
Lewis, M. L., Weber, R., & Bowman, N. D. (2008). “They may be pixels, but they’re my pixels:” developing a metric of character attachment in role-playing video games. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 11(4), 515–518. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2007.0137.View Article
Li, D. D., Liau, A. K., & Khoo, A. (2013). Player-avatar identification in video gaming: Concept and measurement. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(1), 257–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.09.002.View Article
Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) (2016). Internet users survey 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2019, from http://www.mcmc.gov.my.
Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). (2018). Internet users survey 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2019, from http://www.mcmc.gov.my.
Mancini, T., Imperato, C., & Sibilla, F. (2019). Does avatar’s character and emotional bond expose to gaming addiction? Two studies on virtual self-discrepancy, avatar identification and gaming addiction in massively multiplayer online role-playing game players. Computers in Human Behavior, 92, 297–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.11.007.View Article
Mat Sin, N., Talib, O., Norishah, T. P., Ishak, A. A., & Baki, R. (2014). Male students and digital game: reason, motivation and feeling. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 4(1), 6–11. https://doi.org/10.7763/ijiet.2014.v4.359.View Article
Moisala, M., Salmela, V., Hietajärvi, L., Carlson, S., Vuontela, V., Lonka, K., … Alho, K. (2017). Gaming is related to enhanced working memory performance and task-related cortical activity. Brain Research, 1655, 204–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2016.10.027
Newzoo’s Global Games Market Report (2018). Retrieved August 5, 2019, from https://newzoo.com/insights/rankings/top-100-countries-by-game-revenues/.
Park, B. W., & Ahn, J. H. (2010). Policy analysis for online game addiction problems. System Dynamics Review, 26(2), 117–138. https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.436.View Article
Park, B.-W., & Lee, K. C. (2011). Effects of users’ perceived loneliness and stress on online game loyalty. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 556–565. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20042-7_56.
Personal Data Protection Act. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.agc.gov.my/agcportal/uploads/files/Publications/LOM/EN/Act%20709%2014%206%202016.pdf
Pontes, H. M., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). Measuring DSM-5 Internet gaming disorder: development and validation of a short psychometric scale. Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.12.006.View Article
Ringle, C. M., Wende, S., & Becker, J.-M. (2015). SmartPLS 3. SmartPLS GmbH: Boenningstedt.
Rumpf, H.-J., Achab, S., Billieux, J., Carragher, N., Demetrovics, Z., ... Poznyak, V. (2018). Including gaming disorder in the ICD-11: the need to do so from a clinical and public health perspective. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 7, 556–561. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.7.2018.59
Ryu, H., Lee, J.-Y., Choi, A., Park, S., Kim, D.-J., & Choi, J.-S. (2018). The relationship between impulsivity and Internet gaming disorder in young adults: mediating effects of interpersonal relationships and depression. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(3), 458. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030458.View ArticlePubMed Central
Sapienza, A., Zeng, Y., Bessi, A., Lerman, K., & Ferrara, E. (2018). Individual performance in team-based online games. Royal Society Open Science, 5(6), 180329. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.180329.View ArticlePubMedPubMed Central
Sioni, S. R., Burleson, M. H., & Bekerian, D. A. (2017). Internet gaming disorder: social phobia and identifying with your virtual self. Computers in Human Behaviour, 71, 11–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.01.044.View Article
Smahel, D., Blinka, L., & Ledabyl, O. (2008). Playing MMORPGs: connections between addiction and identifying with a character. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 11(6), 715–718. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2007.0210.View Article
Snodgrass, J. G., Francois Dengah II, H. J., Lacy, M. G., & Fagan, J. (2013). A formal anthropological view of motivation models of problematic MMO play: achievement, social, and immersion factors in the context of culture. Transcultural Psychiatry, 50(2), 2335–2262. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461513487666.View Article
Šporčić, B., & Glavak-Tkalić, R. (2018). The relationship between online gaming motivation, self-concept clarity and tendency toward problematic gaming. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.5817/cp2018-1-4.
Steam Database. (2019). Retrieved August 5, 2019, from https://steamdb.info/app/570/graphs/.
T’ng, S. T., Ho, K. H., & Low, S. K. (2018). Are you “phubbing” me? The determinants of phubing behavior and assessment of measurement invariance across sex differences. International and Multidisciplinary Journal of Social Sciences, 7(2), 159–190. https://doi.org/10.17583/rimcis.2018.3318.View Article
Teng, C. I. (2010). Customization, immersion satisfaction, and online gamer loyalty. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(6), 1547–1554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2010.05.029.View Article
Van Looy, J., Courtois, C., De Vocht, M., & De Marez, L. (2012). Player identification in online games: validation of a scale for measuring identification in MMOGs. Media Psychology, 15(2), 197–221. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2012.674917.View Article
Wan, C.-S., & Chiou, W.-B. (2006). Psychological motives and online games addiction: a test of flow theory and humanistic needs theory for Taiwanese adolescents. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 9, 317–324. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.317.View Article
Wilkins, B., Boman, P., & Mergler, A. (2015). Positive psychological strengths and school engagement in primary school children. Cogent Education, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186x.2015.1095680.
World Health Organization. (2019). International classification of diseases (11th ed.). Geneva: World Health Organization.
Yee, N. (2006). Motivations for play in online games. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 9(6), 772–775. Retrieved August 8, 2019, from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a7a9/6b512e077088096927df2438ffa639f4a515.pdf.
Yee, N. (2007). Motivations of play in online games. Journal of Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 9, 772–775. Retrieved August 8, 2019, from http://www.nickyee.com/pubs/Yee%20-%20Motivations%20(2007).pdf.
You, S., Kim, E., & Lee, D. (2017). Virtually real: exploring avatar identification in game addiction among massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) players. Games and Culture, 12(1), 56–71. https://doi.org/10.1177/1555412015581087.View Article
Zhong, Z. J., & Yao, M. Z. (2013). Gaming motivations, avatar-self-identification and symptoms of online game addiction. Asian Journal of Communication, 23(5), 555–573. https://doi.org/10.1080/01292986.2012.748814.View Article

Title: Identification of Avatar Mediates the Associations Between Motivations of Gaming and Internet Gaming Disorder Among the Malaysian Youth
Authors: Soo Ting T’ng
Kee Pau
Publication date: 01-08-2021
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction / Issue 4/2021
Print ISSN: 1557-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1882
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00229-9

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Identification of Avatar Mediates the Associations Between Motivations of Gaming and Internet Gaming Disorder Among the Malaysian Youth

Abstract

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2021

Prevalence and Psychiatric Risk Factors of Excessive Internet Use among Northern Bangladeshi Job-Seeking Graduate Students: A Pilot Study

Psychological Distress, Emotion Dysregulation, and Coping Behaviour: a Theoretical Perspective of Problematic Smartphone Use

Mattering, Insecure Attachment, Rumination, and Self-Criticism in Distress Among University Students

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a Scoping Review of Extant Empirical Literature

A Longitudinal Analysis of Peer Victimization, Self-Esteem, and Rejection Sensitivity in Mental Health and Substance Use Among Adolescents

Media Coverage of the Mental Health of Men and Boys