An Exploratory Study on Motivational Predictors in Internet Gaming Disorder Among Peruvian Gamers

Abstract

According to many reports, one of the fastest growing industries in the US is video games. In Peru, it is estimated that Peruvians spent more than one hundred million dollars annually in videogames. However this number may be underestimated since piracy is a common practice. With the rapid proliferation of this form of entertainment, the inclusion of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in section III of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the recent inclusion of Gaming Disorder in the beta draft of the 11th International Classification of Diseases, many academic researchers and health professionals have become concerned with the addictive properties of videogames. Previous research has found that motivational factors have an important role in addictive behaviors. For this reason, the present study aimed to identify the main motivational factors underlying IGD. To reach this goal, a large empirical survey was carried out among 821 Peruvian gamers. Results showed that escape and fantasy were the factors that most predict IGD among Peruvian gamers. Implications for mental health professionals, game developers, and academics are discussed.