The Moderating Role of Well-Being in the Relationship Between Gaming Motivation and Problematic Gaming

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the moderating role of psychosocial well-being in the relationship between gaming motivation and problematic gaming among problematic and recreational online gamers. Data from 511 online video game players (M = 24.89, SD = 6.39) were analyzed. Problematic online gaming was positively correlated with social anxiety, loneliness, and stress, as well as with social escape, competition, coping, skill development, and fantasy motives for playing online video games. Negative correlation was found between problematic gaming and life satisfaction. The results showed significant interaction terms between loneliness and social motive, life satisfaction and recreation and coping motive, and stress and fantasy motive among problematic gamers. Furthermore, results showed a significant interaction term between stress and skill development motive among recreational gamers. The results are discussed in the framework of the compensatory internet use model (Kardefelt-Winther, 2014a).