Relationship Between Otome Games and Female Body Image Anxiety

Abstract

Otome game is a kind of role-playing game developed for female players. In the past few years, otome games have become very popular in China, with the number of female players rising rapidly. Although there are previous studies exploring the impacts of otome games to players in real lives, relationship between players’ body image and otome games has never been studied before. During the research, we collected 286 valid responses from both female and male participants in China, including those who play and not play otome games, and then compared their different extent of body image anxiety according to the data. The research found that female players are more likely to have negative attitudes towards their body image, and otome game players’ perception of body image seems to be more likely to be influenced by games. The deeper relationship the players have developed with the fictional character, the more likely their attitudes towards their body image seem to be influenced. Most players think gaming has made them more confident about their body and appearance. The avatar image in the game does not affect the body image of the majority of gamers.