Online gaming a comparative study between problematic and non problematic gamers

Abstract

The recent trend of playing Online Games amongst adolescents and the potential negative impact games may have on the adolescents mental health has captured scientific attention. However, insufficiency of literary evidence in the domain of Online Gaming, specifically in Indian population, has led to the need of the current investigation. For this purpose, the study attempted to explore the differences between Problematic and Non-Problematic Gamers in relation to its various psychosocial correlates amongst Indian adolescents. The sample comprised of 300 adolescent s viz., 150 adolescents identified as Problematic Gamers and 150 adolescents identified as Non- Problematic Gamers , in the age range of 14-16 years. To fulfil the objectives of the study, raw scores were analysed using t-ratio, DFA, Chi-Square and Correlation Analysis. Problematic and Non-Problematic Gamers differed on the dimensions of Anger, Perceived Significant Others Social Support, Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Verbal Aggression, Physical Aggression, Time Spent on Gaming (Weekdays), Time spent on Gaming (Weekend), Misconduct, Classroom Defiant Behavior, Aggressive School Behavior, Social Anxiety, Unimportance of School, Academic Performance, Defiance to School Authorities, Hostility, Depressive Tendency and Online Gaming Score. Further, Problematic Gamers , Time Spent on Gaming specifically on the Weekend was higher as compared to Non-Problematic Gamers. The inter-correlation analysis revealed that Online Gaming Score of Problematic Gamers was positively related with Social Anxiety, Anger, Classroom Defiant Behaviour and Defiance to School Authorities and negatively related with Perceived Friends Social Support, Openness to Experience and Neuroticism. While, Online Gaming Score of Non-Problematic Gamers was positively related only with the Social Anxiety variable. newline