IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/fan/mcmcmc/vhtml10.3280-mc2017-004002.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Predict excessive use of Massively Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Games: The role of social anxiety and identification with the character

Author

Listed:
  • Donata Tania Vergura
  • Beatrice Luceri

Abstract

As the popularity of computer games has grown, questions are being raised about their excessive use and factors related to addictive behaviours. This study investigates whether social anxiety and connection with the character affect frequency of play and game dependency in Massively Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Games (MMPORGs). Furthermore, the mediating effect of identification with the character is assumed in the relationships between social anxiety and (a) frequency of play and (b) game dependency. A survey with 264 Italians who engaged in MMPORGs was conducted. Structural equation modelling was used to estimate the hypothesized relationships. The analysis confirmed that social anxiety and identification with the character play a crucial role in the development of problematic behaviours. Identification with the character also acts as a mediator in the social anxiety - game addiction relationship. The findings may improve the understanding of MMPORGs players? behaviour and provide implications for policy makers, health professionals and marketers to encourage and promote responsible online gaming.

Suggested Citation

  • Donata Tania Vergura & Beatrice Luceri, 2017. "Predict excessive use of Massively Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Games: The role of social anxiety and identification with the character," MERCATI & COMPETITIVIT?, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2017(4), pages 19-35.
    • Handle: RePEc:fan:mcmcmc:v:html10.3280/mc2017-004002
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=60329&Tipo=ArticoloPDF
    Download Restriction: Single articles can be downloaded buying download credits, for info: https://www.francoangeli.it/DownloadCredit
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Russell W. Belk, 2013. "Extended Self in a Digital World," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 40(3), pages 477-500.
    2. Dinh Thai Son & Junko Yasuoka & Krishna C. Poudel & Keiko Otsuka & Masamine Jimba, 2013. "Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG): Association between its addiction, self-control and mental disorders among young people in Vietnam," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 59(6), pages 570-577, September.
    3. Mette Rasmussen & Charlotte Meilstrup & Pernille Bendtsen & Trine Pedersen & Line Nielsen & Katrine Madsen & Bjørn Holstein, 2015. "Perceived problems with computer gaming and Internet use are associated with poorer social relations in adolescence," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 60(2), pages 179-188, February.
    4. Teija Nuutinen & Eva Roos & Carola Ray & Jari Villberg & Raili Välimaa & Mette Rasmussen & Bjørn Holstein & Emmanuelle Godeau & Francois Beck & Damien Léger & Jorma Tynjälä, 2014. "Computer use, sleep duration and health symptoms: a cross-sectional study of 15-year olds in three countries," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 59(4), pages 619-628, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lutz, Christoph & Newlands, Gemma, 2018. "Consumer segmentation within the sharing economy: The case of Airbnb," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 187-196.
    2. Patricia A. Norberg & Daniel R. Horne, 2024. "When the bridge is not human: Algorithmic interference in forming social relationships through the manipulation of weak ties," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(2), pages 606-629, June.
    3. Anastasiadou, Constantia & Vettese, Samantha, 2021. "Souvenir authenticity in the additive manufacturing age," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Leena Koivusilta & Heini Kuoppamäki & Arja Rimpelä, 2016. "Energy drink consumption, health complaints and late bedtime among young adolescents," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(3), pages 299-306, April.
    5. Greve, Goetz & Meyer, Frederike, 2020. "Sales- und Service-Bots im Vertrieb - Chance oder Risiko für Unternehmen?," Marketing Review St.Gallen, Universität St.Gallen, Institut für Marketing und Customer Insight, vol. 37(5), pages 10-17.
    6. Alina Duduciuc, 2014. "Teenagers And The Use Of New Technologies (Ict) For Health Information," Studies and Scientific Researches. Economics Edition, "Vasile Alecsandri" University of Bacau, Faculty of Economic Sciences, issue 20.
    7. Sharifah Faridah Syed Alwi & T. C. Melewar & Maria Teresa Cuomo & Manfred Schwaiger, 2020. "Digital Society and Corporate Reputation: Towards the Next Generation of Insights," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(3), pages 129-132, August.
    8. Kim, Do Yuon & Lee, Ha Kyung & Chung, Kyunghwa, 2023. "Avatar-mediated experience in the metaverse: The impact of avatar realism on user-avatar relationship," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    9. Cristian Bogdan Onete & Ioana Teodorescu & Viorel Vasile, 2016. "Analysis Componentsof the Digital Consumer Behavior in Romania," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 18(43), pages 654-654, August.
    10. Ivan Fedorenko & Pierre Berthon, 2017. "Beyond the expected benefits: unpacking value co-creation in crowdsourcing business models," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 7(3), pages 183-194, December.
    11. Agnieszka Zablocki & Bodo Schlegelmilch & Michael J. Houston, 2019. "How valence, volume and variance of online reviews influence brand attitudes," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 9(1), pages 61-77, June.
    12. Lee, Kyungwon & Hakstian, Anne-Marie & Williams, Jerome D., 2021. "Creating a world where anyone can belong anywhere: Consumer equality in the sharing economy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 221-231.
    13. Ying Ding & Sunxu Xu, 2023. "Detrimental impact of contagious disease cues on consumer preference for anthropomorphic products," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 139-153, March.
    14. Koivisto, Elina & Mattila, Pekka, 2020. "Extending the luxury experience to social media – User-Generated Content co-creation in a branded event," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 570-578.
    15. Dominique Kreziak & Isabelle Prim-Allaz & Elisabeth Robinot, 2020. "Destinée des produits technologiques remplacés : l’influence de la valeur résiduelle perçue," Post-Print halshs-02373722, HAL.
    16. Sudbury-Riley, Lynn & Hunter-Jones, Philippa & Al-Abdin, Ahmed & Lewin, Daniel & Spence, Rachel, 2020. "Conceptualizing experiential luxury in palliative care: Pathographies of liminal space, cathedral, and community," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 446-457.
    17. Alexia Gaudeul & Caterina Giannetti, 2015. "Privacy, Trust and Social Network Formation," Jena Economics Research Papers 2015-023, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    18. Chux Gervase Iwu & Abdullah Promise Opute & Olayemi Abdullateef Aliyu & Chukuakadibia Eresia-Eke & Tichaona Buzy Musikavanhu & Afeez Olalekan Jaiyeola, 2021. "A Structural Equation Modelling Evaluation of Antecedents and Interconnections of Call Centre Agents’ Intention to Quit," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-21, April.
    19. Hamari, Juho & Hanner, Nicolai & Koivisto, Jonna, 2017. "Service quality explains why people use freemium services but not if they go premium: An empirical study in free-to-play games," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 1449-1459.
    20. André Le Roux & Thomas Stenger & Marinette Thébault, 2016. "Typologie Et Cartographie Des Medias Sociaux Sous L'Angle Des Usages Et Des Comportements De Consommateur," Post-Print halshs-02530203, HAL.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:fan:mcmcmc:v:html10.3280/mc2017-004002. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Stefania Rosato (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/sommario.aspx?IDRivista=210 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.