Gaming to socialize or escape? Analysis scopes out problematic gaming habits

People who’ve autistic-like traits, however who fall wanting a medical prognosis, are prone to problematic gaming in line with a brand new Charles Darwin University (CDU) research exploring what components can result in gaming issues. 

Concerns over problematic video gaming have elevated in recent times, with practically one third of the worldwide inhabitants taking part in video games. 

Researchers surveyed people to grasp how folks use gaming as an escape, akin to from real-life stress, issues or adverse feelings. 

Survey members performed video video games for at the very least one hour per week, with greater than half the respondents saying they interact in video video games for greater than 10 hours per week. 

Co-authors and CDU Senior Lecturer in Psychology Dr Mal Flack and Professor Kim Caudwell stated the outcomes had been useful as a result of most present analysis centered on problematic gaming with a medical focus, akin to amongst these recognized with autism spectrum dysfunction.

“We found that people with autistic-like traits (ALTs) were not as strongly linked to social motives as escape motives, but that both of these motives helped explain the link between ALTs and gaming,” Professor Caudwell said.  

“The findings counsel that these with increased ALTs could interact in gaming much less for social causes and extra for escape causes, and that ALTs could also be a threat issue from drawback gaming.”

Professor Caudwell said the findings don’t imply having autism spectrum disorder or autistic-like traits lead to problem gaming, rather the results highlight the importance of understanding what shapes gaming behaviour. 

“We need to ensure gaming remains a balanced activity,” Professor Caudwell said. 

“By focusing on these underlying motivations, interventions for problem gaming may more effectively address the reasons gaming becomes problematic, while avoiding the stigmatisation of high gaming engagement.

“We need to make sure we are not pathologising gaming, rather understanding that when it is problematic, motives are really important to focus on.”

Future avenues of analysis embrace increasing the survey pool to seize a wider vary of respondents and exploring different components which might contribute to drawback gaming akin to psychological well being and sport preferences. 

A mediation analysis of Autistic-like traits and gaming motivations on problem gaming symptoms: Are the effects of social and escape motives the same? was printed within the journal Addictive Behaviors Reports.