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The Impact of Pandemic-Related Life Stress on Internet Gaming: Social Cynicism and Gaming Motivation as Serial Mediators

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  • Elsie Yan

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Rong-Wei Sun

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Anise M. S. Wu

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China)

  • Daniel W. L. Lai

    (Faculty of Social Sciences, Baptist University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China)

  • Vincent W. P. Lee

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China)

Abstract

A heightened interest in online gaming has emerged during COVID-19, and people have become increasingly vulnerable to internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, playing video games can also have a positive effect; gaming has been recognized as an efficient coping strategy. Currently, relatively little is understood about how online gaming can turn from an efficient coping strategy into an addiction disorder. This study investigated the mediating roles of social cynicism, escape and coping motives on the association between daily disruption during COVID-19 and IGD, seeking to reveal the underlying mechanism that influences the effects of gaming. A total of 203 participants in Hong Kong who reported having played electronic games during COVID-19 were surveyed. We conducted three hierarchical multiple regressions, then tested a serial mediation model using path analysis with structural equation modeling. The results revealed that escape motives significantly mediated the relationship between daily disruption related to COVID-19 and IGD, but no such effect was found for coping motives. Social cynicism alone was not a significant mediator, but social cynicism and escape motives in series mediated the relationship between daily disruption and IGD. These difference outcomes suggested different underlying mechanisms of escape and coping motives.

Suggested Citation

  • Elsie Yan & Rong-Wei Sun & Anise M. S. Wu & Daniel W. L. Lai & Vincent W. P. Lee, 2022. "The Impact of Pandemic-Related Life Stress on Internet Gaming: Social Cynicism and Gaming Motivation as Serial Mediators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8332-:d:858040
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    2. Johanna Lai & Michael Bond & Natalie Hui, 2007. "The role of social axioms in predicting life satisfaction: a longitudinal study in Hong Kong," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 8(4), pages 517-535, December.
    3. Elsie Yan & Daniel W. L. Lai & Vincent W. P. Lee & Haze K. L. Ng, 2021. "Predicting Public Adherence to COVID-19 Preventive Measures: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-11, November.
    4. Rosseel, Yves, 2012. "lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 48(i02).
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    1. Rong-Wei Sun & Esther Yuet Ying Lau & Sing-Hang Cheung & Chi-Keung Chan, 2023. "Meaning in Life, Social Axioms, and Emotional Outcomes during the First Outbreak of COVID-19 in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-15, June.

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