Psychiatry Investig.  2016 May;13(3):297-304. 10.4306/pi.2016.13.3.297.

Correlations among Social Anxiety, Self-Esteem, Impulsivity, and Game Genre in Patients with Problematic Online Game Playing

• Park JH
• Han DH
• Kim BN
• Cheong JH
• Lee YS

• KMID: 2316646
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2016.13.3.297

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Recent studies of online game addiction have suggested that social interaction and impulsivity are critical factors for the etiology and progress of online game addiction. We hypothesized that the genre of the online game is associated with impulsivity and sociality in individuals with online game addictions.
METHODS
In total, 212 patients with problematic online game playing were divided into four groups by game genre: 1) massive multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), 2) real-time strategy (RTS), 3) first-person shooter (FPS), and 4) other. Their symptoms and characteristics were assessed using 8 scales and 2 tests to estimate self-esteem, impulsiveness, comorbidity, social interaction status, and cognitive function.
RESULTS
The mean social anxiety score was highest in the MMORPG group and lowest in the FPS group. The mean self-esteem score was highest in the RTS group. Social anxiety score was positively correlated with Internet addiction score in the MMORPG group, and the self-esteem score was positively correlated with Internet addiction score in the RTS group.
CONCLUSION
The genre of online game was not associated with impulsivity, but social anxiety status varied significantly with game genre, and differences in social anxiety were especially pronounced in patients playing the MMORPG (highest social anxiety) and FPS (lowest social anxiety) game genres. In addition, self-esteem was highest in the RTS game genre.

Keyword

Online game addiction; Online game genre; Social anxiety; Self-esteem; Impulsivity

MeSH Terms

Anxiety*
Comorbidity
Humans
Impulsive Behavior*
Internet
Interpersonal Relations
Role Playing
Weights and Measures