An empirical examination of factors associated with Game Transfer Phenomena severity

Coping with COVID- 19 pandemic stressors: Comparisons between non-players and players, and levels of Game Transfer Phenomena

During the COVID-19 pandemic, video game playing increased exponentially. The question if playing could offer benefits to cope with the pandemic stressors emerged. This study compares how non-players and players who may or may not re-experience (e.g., seeing, hearing) game content after playing [i.e., Game Transfer Phenomena (GTP)] cope with the pandemic stressors, emotion regulation and resilience. It also examines the impact of GTP on the perception of self and the world. A total of 567 completed a survey (59.6% male, MeanAge = 28.55). The measures include emotional regulation (ERC), resilience to stress (BRCS) and fear of contamination (PI). No differences between players and non-players on ERC, BRCS and PI were found. Players with moderate GTP levels were more likely to report contamination fears and show preventive COVID coping behaviours. The positive impact of GTP was associated with high resilience and cognitive reappraisal as an emotion regulation strategy. The results suggest that attention should be paid to players who experience GTP more frequently and with a negative impact. Maladaptive coping styles can exacerbate distress from GTP and situational stressors. Identifying methods of protecting vulnerable individuals from these psychological burdens can guide interventions and mitigate consequences in similar situations.

Multidimensional assessment of Game Transfer Phenomena: Intrusive cognitions, perceptual distortions, hallucinations and dissociations

Game Transfer Phenomena (GTP) refers to a cluster of involuntary phenomena related to playing videogames, including sensory and cognitive intrusions, transient changes in perception and self-agency. The Game Transfer Phenomena Scale (GTPS) has been used to measure the frequency of GTP with respect to five factors. The present study aimed to validate an instrument for assessing the multiple dimensions of GTP (GTP-MDS) that helps clarify the distinction between GTP experiences. GTP were contextualized onto the spectrum of intrusive cognitions, perceptual distortions, and dissociations. The relationship between GTP, involuntary phenomena without game content (INVWG) in terms of, e.g., hallucinations and perceptual distortions, and game-biased perceptions (GBPA), as well as the positive and negative impact of GTP and level of distress were also examined. The data were collected using a survey (N = 1,301, male 83.4%, mean age = 28.14). Separate confirmatory factor analyses of the dimensions of "inner intrusions/misperceptions," "outer intrusions/distortions," and "dissociations/mix-ups" produced acceptable fit indices. The findings show that phenomena manifesting as internal experiences are more common, while those manifesting as externalized intrusions are less common. Correlations between the GTP dimensions, INVWG, and GBPA, such as the insertion of game elements in thoughts, perceptions, and dreams, supported convergent validity. The correlations between the GTP dimensions and hours played supported criterion validity. Distress was correlated with outer intrusions and dissociations/mix-ups, but not with inner intrusions. Taken together, these results support the validity and reliability of the proposed assessment of GTP constructs.

Investigating how internet gaming disorder and bodily dissociation experiences vary by game genres

This study aims to investigate whether Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and bodily dissociation vary depending on the most frequently used game genre. Seven hundred and fifteen highly engaged online players (71.5% men; mean age 29.75 ± 7.48 years) recruited in player communities completed a survey that assessed game genre, bodily dissociative experiences and IGD. The results showed significantlly higher levels of IGD among multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBA) and massively multiplayer online role-playing games players relative to first-person shooters (FPS) game players, whilst MOBA players report significantly higher bodily dissociative experiences compared to MORPG and FPS. However, we found that differences on body dissociation disappear at high levels of IGD, with problematic players showing high body disconnection, regardless of the type of game most frequently used. This suggests that high engagement in online games has the potential to disconnect a player from his body, regardless of the type of game used.

Game Transfer Phenomena and Problematic Interactive Media Use: Dispositional and Media Habit Factors

The study of the effects of interactive media has mainly focused on dysregulated behaviors, the conceptualization of which is supported by the paradigms of addiction. Research into Game Transfer Phenomena (GTP) examines the interplay between video game features, events while playing, and the manipulation of hardware, which can lead to sensory-perceptual and cognitive intrusions (e.g., hallucinations and recurrent thoughts) and self-agency transient changes (e.g., automatic behaviors) related to video games. GTP can influence the interpretation of stimuli and everyday interactions and, in contrast to gaming disorder, are relatively common and not necessarily negative. However, some players have reported feeling distress due to their GTP. This study focuses on how dispositional and interactive media habit factors are related to GTP and two forms of problematic interactive media [problematic video game playing (PVG) and problematic social media use (PSMU)]. A sample of 343 university students who played video games completed an online survey (58.7% male, 19–25 years old). Not all who had experienced GTP were identified as exhibiting PVG or PSMU, but all of those in the PVG group had experienced GTP. Overall, the profiles of the groups, including GTP (91.4%), PVG (28.5%), and PSMU (24.8%), were in accordance with previous findings. Those in the GTP and the PVG groups were characterized by being male, being highly engaged in the game (either while playing or via game-related activities), and showed preferences for game-related activities. However, while those in the GTP group were significantly more likely to be fantasy-prone, those with PVG were the ones who played most per day. Those in the PSMU group were characterized by being female and/or extroverted, frequently using social/sharing platforms, and seldom playing video games. A hierarchical binary logistic regression revealed that males were more likely to experience GTP. Increases in PVG, fantasy proneness, and neuroticism increased the odds of GTP. Future work can benefit from considering the role of GTP in gaming disorder, since intrusive thoughts, cognitive biases, and poor impulse control are pivotal in the initiation and maintenance of dysfunctional playing behaviors.

Proteus Effect Profiles: how Do they Relate with Disordered Gaming Behaviours?

Gamers represent themselves in online gaming worlds through their avatars. The term "Proteus Effect" (PE) defines the potential influences of the gamers' avatars on their demeanour, perception and conduct and has been linked with excessive gaming. There is a significant lack of knowledge regarding likely distinct PE profiles and whether these could be differentially implicated with disordered gaming. A normative group of 1022 World of Warcraft (WoW) gamers were assessed in the present study (Mean _age = 28.60 years). The Proteus Effect Scale (PES) was used to evaluate the possible avatar effect on gamers' conduct, and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form was used to examine gaming disorder behaviors. Latent class profiling resulted in three distinct PE classes, 'non-influenced-gamers' (NIGs), 'perception-cognition-influenced-gamers' (PCIGs), and 'emotion-behaviour-influenced-gamers' (EBIGs). The NIGs reported low rates across all PES items. The PCIGs indicated higher avatar influence in their perception-experience but did not report being affected emotionally. The EBIGs indicated significantly higher avatar influence in their emotion and behaviour than the other two classes but reported stability in their perception of aspects independent of their avatar. Gaming disorder behaviours were reduced for the NIGs and progressively increased for the PCIGs and the EBIGs.

Problematic Facebook use and problematic video gaming as mediators of relationship between impulsivity and life satisfaction among female and male gamers

Over the past few decades, many new technologies have emerged, such as portable computers, the internet and smartphones, which have contributed to improving the lives of individuals. While the benefits of these new technologies are overwhelmingly positive, negative consequences are experienced by a minority of individuals. One possible negative aspect of new technologies is their problematic use due to impulsive use which may lead to lower life satisfaction. The present study investigated the mediating role of problematic video gaming (PVG) and problematic Facebook use (PFU) in the relationship between impulsivity dimensions and life satisfaction as well as the relationship between impulsivity dimensions and problematic behaviors. Additionally, the potential impact of gender differences was also examined. The study comprised 673 gamers (391 females) aged 17-38 years (M = 21.25 years, SD = 2.67) selected from 1365 individuals who completed an offline survey. PFU was assessed using the Facebook Intrusion Scale, and PVG was assessed using the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF). Impulsivity dimensions such as attention, cognitive instability, motor, perseverance, self-control, and cognitive complexity were assessed using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), and life satisfaction was assessed using the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Depending on the specific impulsivity dimension, findings showed both positive and negative relationships between impulsivity and life satisfaction. Attention and perseverance subtypes of impulsivity were primarily associated with problematic behaviors. Additionally, cognitive complexity was associated with PFU among female gamers, whereas cognitive instability was associated with PVG among male gamers. Additionally, PVG was primarily associated with lower life satisfaction. However, there was no mediation effects between impulsivity dimensions and life satisfaction via PFU or PVG. These findings provide a better understanding of the relationship between problematic behaviors, life satisfaction, and impulsivity among gamers and the differences between male and female gamers.

User-avatar bond profiles: How do they associate with disordered gaming?

AIMS

The avatar constitutes the in-game representation of the gamer. Although aspects of the user-avatar bond (UAB) have been associated with disordered gaming, there is a need for clearer understanding concerning the impact of potential UAB profiles.

METHODS

To address this need, the present study recruited a normative sample of 1022 World of Warcraft (WoW) players (M_age = 28.55 years, SD = 9.90). Participants completed the User-Avatar Questionnaire (to assess UAB aspects such as identification, immersion, and compensation), the Proteus-Effect Scale (to assess transference of the avatar's behaviour in real life), and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (to assess disordered gaming).

RESULTS

Latent class analysis indicated the existence of three UAB profiles, 'differentiated gamers' (DGs), 'identified gamers' (IGs) and 'fused gamers' (FGs). The DGs were characterized by low scores across all UAB aspects. The IGs did not report significant Proteus Effect (PE) or immersion behaviours, and despite being more identified with their avatar, did not significantly compensate through it. The FGs presented with higher PE, immersion, and compensation, although they did not significantly identify with their avatars, possibly due to having idealized them. Disordered gaming behaviours were significantly lower for the DGs and sequentially higher for the IGs and the FGs. Preoccupation and mood modification behaviours related to gaming disorder were distinctively associated with FGs.

CONCLUSION

Disordered gaming assessment and treatment implications of the UAB profiles are discussed.

The Physical, Emotional, and Identity User-Avatar Association with Disordered Gaming: A Pilot Study

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a rapidly expanding psychopathological manifestation necessitating further research and clinical attention. Although recent research has investigated relationships between user-avatar and excessive gaming, little is known about the interplay between IGD and avatar self-presence and its dimensions (i.e., the physical, emotional, and identity bond developed between the user and the in-game character). The aim of the present pilot study was twofold: (i) to investigate the associations between physical, emotional, and identity aspects of self-presence associate and IGD severity, and (ii) to assess IGD variations longitudinally in relation to the three dimensions of self-presence (i.e., proto-self-presence, core-self-presence, and extended-self-presence). The sample comprised 125 young adults aged between 18 and 29 years who underwent either (i) three offline measurements (1 month apart, over 3 months) or (ii) a cross-sectional online measurement. Regression and latent growth analysis indicated that the initial intensity of the physical, emotional, and identity self-presence aspects associated with IGD severity, but not to its longitudinal change. Overall, young adult gamers may exhibit higher IGD risk and severity when the experience of physical, emotional, and identity bonding with their in-game character is pronounced. The implications surrounding treatment and preventative policy recommendations are further discussed.