The Influence of Player Motivation on Problematic Online Gaming of Youth in China: A Mediation Effect of Age
Online game playing of youth in China, especially their problematic online gaming (POG), has become one of the social issues that affects large numbers of people and their families. However, studies about the impact of player’s motivation on problematic playing are sparse and lack systematic approac...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/hbe2/9159986 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850070722989260800 |
|---|---|
| author | Chaoguang Wang Fred Charles Wen Tang |
| author_facet | Chaoguang Wang Fred Charles Wen Tang |
| author_sort | Chaoguang Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Online game playing of youth in China, especially their problematic online gaming (POG), has become one of the social issues that affects large numbers of people and their families. However, studies about the impact of player’s motivation on problematic playing are sparse and lack systematic approaches. Our current study is aimed at investigating the relationship between gaming motivations and POG. This paper presents the results of a large-scale survey conducted in China with 1557 participants, of whom 1358 (87.2%) were male. A multiple regression analysis with 10 game motivations as predictors has been performed to explore which factors have effects on game addiction. It is shown that the best predictors of game addiction are the escapism motivation, followed by the competition motivation and then the advancement motivation. The mediation effect of demographic variables on the relationships between player’s motivations and game addiction is further examined using the casual steps, and a significant mediating effect of age on game addiction is revealed. The POG differences across gender and age were also examined. The findings enable a better understanding of the underlying mechanics of POG and to minimize the risks and maximise the positive impact of games on society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d7128719be474772b97b4f5ea87cd80b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2578-1863 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies |
| spelling | doaj-art-d7128719be474772b97b4f5ea87cd80b2025-08-20T02:47:28ZengWileyHuman Behavior and Emerging Technologies2578-18632025-01-01202510.1155/hbe2/9159986The Influence of Player Motivation on Problematic Online Gaming of Youth in China: A Mediation Effect of AgeChaoguang Wang0Fred Charles1Wen Tang2Department of Computer ScienceDepartment of Creative TechnologyDepartment of Creative TechnologyOnline game playing of youth in China, especially their problematic online gaming (POG), has become one of the social issues that affects large numbers of people and their families. However, studies about the impact of player’s motivation on problematic playing are sparse and lack systematic approaches. Our current study is aimed at investigating the relationship between gaming motivations and POG. This paper presents the results of a large-scale survey conducted in China with 1557 participants, of whom 1358 (87.2%) were male. A multiple regression analysis with 10 game motivations as predictors has been performed to explore which factors have effects on game addiction. It is shown that the best predictors of game addiction are the escapism motivation, followed by the competition motivation and then the advancement motivation. The mediation effect of demographic variables on the relationships between player’s motivations and game addiction is further examined using the casual steps, and a significant mediating effect of age on game addiction is revealed. The POG differences across gender and age were also examined. The findings enable a better understanding of the underlying mechanics of POG and to minimize the risks and maximise the positive impact of games on society.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/hbe2/9159986 |
| spellingShingle | Chaoguang Wang Fred Charles Wen Tang The Influence of Player Motivation on Problematic Online Gaming of Youth in China: A Mediation Effect of Age Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies |
| title | The Influence of Player Motivation on Problematic Online Gaming of Youth in China: A Mediation Effect of Age |
| title_full | The Influence of Player Motivation on Problematic Online Gaming of Youth in China: A Mediation Effect of Age |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Player Motivation on Problematic Online Gaming of Youth in China: A Mediation Effect of Age |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Player Motivation on Problematic Online Gaming of Youth in China: A Mediation Effect of Age |
| title_short | The Influence of Player Motivation on Problematic Online Gaming of Youth in China: A Mediation Effect of Age |
| title_sort | influence of player motivation on problematic online gaming of youth in china a mediation effect of age |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/hbe2/9159986 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chaoguangwang theinfluenceofplayermotivationonproblematiconlinegamingofyouthinchinaamediationeffectofage AT fredcharles theinfluenceofplayermotivationonproblematiconlinegamingofyouthinchinaamediationeffectofage AT wentang theinfluenceofplayermotivationonproblematiconlinegamingofyouthinchinaamediationeffectofage AT chaoguangwang influenceofplayermotivationonproblematiconlinegamingofyouthinchinaamediationeffectofage AT fredcharles influenceofplayermotivationonproblematiconlinegamingofyouthinchinaamediationeffectofage AT wentang influenceofplayermotivationonproblematiconlinegamingofyouthinchinaamediationeffectofage |