An exploratory study of the association between online gaming addiction and enjoyment motivations for playing massively multiplayer online role-playing games

Hussain, Z ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7678-6615, Williams, GA ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8656-9289 and Griffiths, MD ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524, 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, pp. 221-230. ISSN 0747-5632

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Abstract

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) are a popular form of entertainment used by millions of gamers worldwide. Potential problems relating to MMORPG play have emerged, particularly in relation to being addicted to playing in such virtual environments. In the present study, factors relating to online gaming addiction and motivations for playing in MMORPGs were examined to establish whether they were associated with addiction. A sample comprised 1,167 gamers who were surveyed about their gaming motivations. Latent Class Analysis revealed seven classes of motivations for playing MMORPGs, which comprised: (1) novelty; (2) highly social and discovery-orientated; (3) aggressive, anti-social and non-curious; (4) highly social, competitive; (5) low intensity enjoyment; (6) discovery-orientated; and (7) social classes. Five classes of gaming addiction-related experiences were extracted including: (1) high risk of addiction, (2) time-affected, (3) intermediate risk of addiction, (4) emotional control, and (5) low risk of addiction classes. Gender was a significant predictor of intermediate risk of addiction and emotional control class membership. Membership of the high risk of addiction class was significantly predicted by belonging to a highly social and competitive class, a novelty class, or an aggressive, anti-social, and non-curious class. Implications of these findings for assessment and treatment of MMORPG addiction are discussed.

Item Type: Journal article
Publication Title: Computers in Human Behavior
Creators: Hussain, Z., Williams, G.A. and Griffiths, M.D.
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2015
Volume: 50
ISSN: 0747-5632
Identifiers:
Number
Type
10.1016/j.chb.2015.03.075
DOI
Divisions: Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by: Linda Sullivan
Date Added: 01 Dec 2015 16:39
Last Modified: 23 Sep 2019 10:09
URI: https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26568

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