User-avatar bond profiles: how do they associate with disordered gaming?

Stavropoulos, V, Gomez, R, Mueller, A, Yucel, M and Griffiths, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524, 2019. User-avatar bond profiles: how do they associate with disordered gaming? Addictive Behaviors. ISSN 0306-4603

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Abstract

Aims: The avatar constitutes the in-game representation of the gamer. Although aspects of the user-avatar bond (UAB) have been associated with disordered gaming, there is a need for clearer understanding concerning the impact of potential UAB profiles.

Methods: To address this need, the present study recruited a normative sample of 1022 World of Warcraft (WoW) players (Mage = 28.55 years, SD = 9.90). Participants completed the User-Avatar Questionnaire (to assess UAB aspects such as identification, immersion, and compensation), the Proteus-Effect Scale (to assess transference of the avatar's behaviour in real life), and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short-Form (to assess disordered gaming).

Results: Latent class analysis indicated the existence of three UAB profiles, 'differentiated gamers' (DGs), 'identified gamers' (IGs) and 'fused gamers' (FGs). The DGs were characterized by low scores across all UAB aspects. The IGs did not report significant Proteus Effect (PE) or immersion behaviours, and despite being more identified with their avatar, did not significantly compensate through it. The FGs presented with higher PE, immersion, and compensation, although they did not significantly identify with their avatars, possibly due to having idealized them. Disordered gaming behaviours were significantly lower for the DGs and sequentially higher for the IGs and the FGs. Preoccupation and mood modification behaviours related to gaming disorder were distinctively associated with FGs.

Conclusion: Disordered gaming assessment and treatment implications of the UAB profiles are discussed.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Addictive Behaviors
Creators:	Stavropoulos, V., Gomez, R., Mueller, A., Yucel, M. and Griffiths, M.
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date:	10 December 2019
ISSN:	0306-4603
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106245 DOI S0306460319308925 Publisher Item Identifier 1255708 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	16 Dec 2019 12:02
Last Modified:	10 Jun 2021 03:00
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/38863

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