Psychological Predictors of Intensive Practice of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games

Abstract

Background and aims: Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG) are video games with special characteristics, which are a persistent immersive online virtual world with the creation of an avatar and an important social aspect. These specificities raise the question of the need for some players to practice intensively and to neglect the real world in favor of the virtual one. The aim of this study is to develop an explanatory model for intensive practice of MMORPG. Method(s): 313 regular MMORPG players were recruited on specialized forums. They completed several questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger Inventory of State-Trait Anxiety, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Life Satisfaction Scale, Interpersonal Relationships Quality Scale, Feeling of Social Belonging Scale, and Problem Video Game Playing Questionnaire and Internet Addiction Test to assess their intensity of practice. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed by including first the age, then the psychosocial variables (life satisfaction, feeling of social belonging, quality of interpersonal relationships) and finally the psychopathological variables (depressive symptoms, anxiety, self-esteem). Result(s): Results highlighted that intensive practice of MMORPG can be significantly predicted by the age of the player (b =-0.134), depressive symptoms (b = 0.313) and feeling of social belonging (b =-0.186). Conclusion(s): This study showed that intensive MMORPG players are younger and have stronger depressive symptoms and a lower feeling of social belonging than other players. Future research should aim to clarify whether these characteristics are causes or consequences of intensive practice.