Abstract
This study tested the hypothesis that positive expectancies (i.e., the belief that gaming will be rewarding) and avoidance expectancies (i.e., the belief that gaming will relieve stress) would mediate the impact of peer social influence on problematic internet gaming behavior. Internet game players (n = 120) accessed the link to the study through the psychology department research pool website as well as through Reddit gaming threads. After providing informed consent and demographic information, participants completed the remaining measures in a randomized order. Social influence was measured using the Peer Influence for Internet Gaming Addiction (IGA) scale which assessed approval of gaming, perceived frequency of gaming, and invitations to play. The Game-Use Expectancies scale assessed positive and avoidance expectancies of online gaming. Problematic internet gaming behavior was assessed using the Internet Gaming Disorder Test-20 (IGDT). Participants played internet games at least once per week and had an average IGDT score of 43.1 (SD = 10.42; Median = 44) with scores ranging from 21 to 68. None of our participants met criteria for IGD. Mediation was tested using Hayes (2022) PROCESS Macro model 4. Stronger peer influence and stronger expectations of relief (i.e., avoidance expectancies) were associated with higher IGDT scores. Moreover, stronger peer influence was associated with more positive outcome expectancies. Neither positive nor avoidance expectancies mediated the association between peer influence and IGDT score. Our results indicate that avoidance, as opposed to positive, expectancies are important predictors of problematic internet gaming behavior.
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Data are available upon request from the corresponding author.
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Both authors contributed to the study conception and design and to data analysis. Data collection was performed by Rene A. Perez. The study was conducted to fulfill a requirement for his MA in Psychology at Towson University. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Rene A. Perez and edited extensively by Elizabeth C. Katz. Both authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
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This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Towson University (Approved Exempt on February 17th, 2022; Protocol # 1642). Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Data were collected anonymously, and results are being presented in aggregate form only.
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Perez, R.A., Katz, E.C. Positive and Avoidance Outcome Expectancies as Mediators of the Relationship between Social Influence and Problematic Internet Gaming Behavior: Preliminary Findings. J Psychopathol Behav Assess (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-023-10092-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-023-10092-2