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Pathologic Use of Video Games and Motivation: Can the Gaming Motivation Scale (GAMS) Predict Depression and Trait Anxiety?

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  • Sara Peracchia

    (Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Sanità Pubblica, Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi dell’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Fabio Presaghi

    (Dipartimento di Psicologia dei Processi di Sviluppo e Socializzazione, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Curcio

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Applicate e Biotecnologiche, Università degli Studi dell’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

Abstract

Videogaming is an increasingly prevalent activity among adolescents worldwide. The present study aimed at adapting the Gaming Motivation Scale (GAMS) to the Italian context, assessing its psychometric properties and verifying its sensitivity to predict depression and anxiety levels. From a sample of 1899 participants, a group of 388 adolescents who participated in the survey was divided into two subgroups of Heavy (HG, N = 188) and Light Gamers (LG, N = 200). A sub-sample of N = 172 adolescents also filled-in CESD and STAI to assess, respectively, depression and trait anxiety. Internal consistency and factorial structure of the Italian version of GAMS (GAMS-it) have been evaluated. Moreover, a latent regression structural equation model by predicting the CES-D and STAI scores with the GAMS-it factors has been carried out. GAMS-it has adequate validity and reliability levels, showing a very similar factorial structure to the original version. Therefore, this scale can be used to evaluate gaming motivation, which is useful for gaming motivation screening. Finally, it has been found that lower gaming motivation can be related to high level of depression and anxiety. The present findings provide a coherent picture, supporting the reliability and validity of the GAMS-it, that appears potentially useful in predicting anxiety and depression levels in a population of adolescents.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Peracchia & Fabio Presaghi & Giuseppe Curcio, 2019. "Pathologic Use of Video Games and Motivation: Can the Gaming Motivation Scale (GAMS) Predict Depression and Trait Anxiety?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:6:p:1008-:d:215484
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vega González-Bueso & Juan José Santamaría & Daniel Fernández & Laura Merino & Elena Montero & Joan Ribas, 2018. "Association between Internet Gaming Disorder or Pathological Video-Game Use and Comorbid Psychopathology: A Comprehensive Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, April.
    2. Colder Carras, Michelle & Kalbarczyk, Anna & Wells, Kurrie & Banks, Jaime & Kowert, Rachel & Gillespie, Colleen & Latkin, Carl, 2018. "Connection, meaning, and distraction: A qualitative study of video game play and mental health recovery in veterans treated for mental and/or behavioral health problems," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 124-132.
    3. Aaron V Berard & Matthew S Cain & Takeo Watanabe & Yuka Sasaki, 2015. "Frequent Video Game Players Resist Perceptual Interference," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(3), pages 1-10, March.
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