Blake Quinney, Michael J A Wohl, Gray E Gaudett, Daniel L King
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background and aims: Recovery from gaming disorder can be difficult because it requires reducing or abstaining from an activity that once fulfilled important psychological needs such as social connection, achievement, and escape. This research examined whether nostalgia for the perceived benefits of gaming-termed addiction-related nostalgia-undermines recovery and whether such nostalgia arises from continued identification as a gamer.
Methods: Two pre-registered cross-sectional studies were conducted with individuals in recovery from gaming disorder (Study 1a = 299; Study 1b = 578; total N = 877). Participants completed measures of gamer identification, addiction-related nostalgia, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and intention to remain in recovery. Path analyses tested hypothesised indirect effects using bias-corrected bootstrapping.
Results: Gamer identification was positively associated with addiction-related nostalgia, which in turn predicted greater loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Addiction-related nostalgia indirectly undermined intention to remain in recovery through heightened loneliness and depression. Participants who engaged in reduced gaming reported greater nostalgia, depression, anxiety, and lower recovery motivation than abstinent participants.
Conclusions: Addiction-related nostalgia represents a significant psychological barrier to recovery from gaming disorder. Continued identification as a gamer may sustain longing for gaming's benefits, exacerbate psychological difficulties, and weaken recovery motivation. Assessing and addressing nostalgia may strengthen recovery-focused interventions.
期刊介绍：
The aim of Journal of Behavioral Addictions is to create a forum for the scientific information exchange with regard to behavioral addictions. The journal is a broad focused interdisciplinary one that publishes manuscripts on different approaches of non-substance addictions, research reports focusing on the addictive patterns of various behaviors, especially disorders of the impulsive-compulsive spectrum, and also publishes reviews in these topics. Coverage ranges from genetic and neurobiological research through psychological and clinical psychiatric approaches to epidemiological, sociological and anthropological aspects.
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