Correlations among Social Anxiety, Self-Esteem, Impulsivity, and Game Genre in Patients with Problematic Online Game Playing

Online game genres

Although there is a large variety of online games currently available, user mainly play one or two specific game genres. In discussing online games, the genre matters significantly; in this study, we used the "2012 Korean Game Industry White Paper"10 online games classification, which is well-known and frequently referenced by online game players and publications world-wide. We used this classification to sort online game titles into three distinct genres and one aggregate "other" category of less commonly reported genres, as described below.

Role-playing games (RPGs) are rich in narrative and initially were usually designed to have a single player. Success depends on skills suited to achieving objectives in developing and managing characters. These games have evolved with the rapid expansion of Internet use into massive, multiplayer, online role-playing games (MMORPGs). In MMORPGs, players develop characters and interact collaboratively and competitively in a shared online world. MMORPGs enable simultaneous interaction among thousands of gamers. Thus, gameplay tends to emphasize socialization aspects. The never-ending and highly social nature of MMORPGs distinguishes them from other genres and might also increasing their addictive nature.1314

Another popular genre of games, which differs markedly from MMORPGs, is first-person shooter (FPS). In this action subgenre, game players engage in combat with enemies, predominately using firearms. The shoot-to-kill style of FPS games is considered highly arousing and violent.15 To date, very little specific experimental research has investigated excessive FPS gaming. A recent survey has found that FPS gamers do report excessive gaming, with prevalence second only to that of MMORPGs.16

Real-time strategy (RTS) games are strategic combat-orientated games with no delay between moves. Other strategy games are turn-based (i.e., waiting on the player to act) and use other forms of strategic simulation. In RTS player matches, strategic decision-making ability directly influences the results and scores of game play. For example, in a battle of friendly forces versus enemy forces, a gamer might hold a combat commander position that makes use of multiple strategies to take over the enemy's fortress.

The remaining game genres include arcade games, online sports games, casual games, and other action games with uncomplicated playing rules; these are classified into the "others" category in this article.

Personal characteristics and online game genres in the general population

In Korea, several studies have linked personal characteristics and sociality to game genre among the general population of adolescents and adults.111718 Agreeableness and extraversion appear to be strong motivation predictors for playing online games. However, personality traits do not seem to predict online gaming behavior in terms of overall game playing time or preference for specific genres of online games. Age has been positively associated with the escapism motivation for playing online games.17 Significant play pattern differences have been noted for the different game genres. Simulation, RPG, and shooting game users show a preference for playing with others. This preference is lower for web-based board game and sports game players than for other genre users.11

In past studies, high-risk Internet users seemed to have difficulty controlling their own behavior, which could be related to low self-confidence and emotional problems.19 To extend this research, we analyzed in detail any specific differences in personal characteristics among the online game genres. In particular, we examined the types of specific personal characteristics that could lead to overuse of online gaming in various genres compared to individuals in the general population who are frequently exposed to online games. Research on "who plays what and why" can provide a more complete picture of gamer personalities and motivations and improve the ability to assess the characteristics of patients with addiction to online gaming with respect to game genres.

Considering recent research regarding those in the general population who are frequently exposed to online games and from the perspective that social cognition is closely related to impulsivity and that these factors interact in predicting aggressive behavior,20 we evaluated impulsivity and sociality with respect to social anxiety, self-esteem, and family environmental factors in patients with online gaming addiction.

Subjects

We screened 352 patients with problematic online game play who visited the Online Game Clinic Center from June 2011 to June 2012. All patients were screened using the structured clinical interview of DSM-IV for psychiatric comorbidities,2122 including assessment of history or current episode of Axis 1 psychiatric disorders. Exclusion criteria for the study included neurological or medical disorders. In addition, all participants were asked to complete questionnaires incorporating a measure of the severity of Internet addiction, the Family Environmental Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, the Behavior Inhibition Scale (BIS)/Behavioral Activation System (BAS) Scale, the Social Avoidance Scale, Dupaul's Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, an IQ test, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.

The criteria for online game addiction in the current study are similar to those applied in previous studies; all of the following criteria must be met for a diagnosis of online game addition:2324 1) duration of online game play longer than 4 hours per day or 30 hours per week, 2) Young Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS) score greater than 50,25 3) irritable, anxious, and aggressive behaviors when forced to stop online game play, 4) impaired behaviors or distress, economic problems, and maladaptive patterns in regular life due to excessive online game play, and 5) irregular life pattern due to disrupted diurnal rhythms (sleeping during the day and gaming at night, irregular meals, and failure to maintain personal hygiene), school truancy, or loss of job. Of the 352 initially identified patients, 212 met all the criteria and were included in this study.

The research protocol for the current study was approved by the Chung Ang University Hospital Institutional Review Board. Written informed consent was received from patients at least 18 years of age. For adolescents younger than 18 years, written informed consent was provided by both the parents and the adolescents.

Estimated scales

Demographic characteristics

Of the 212 patients, 83 were preoccupied with MMORPGs (39.2%), 74 with RTSs (34.9%), 34 with FPSs (16.0%), and 21 with games in other genres (9.9%). The online game addiction composition of the 212 patients included 79 with online game addiction alone; the others had additional problems: 64 with ADHD, 40 with major depression, 11 with dual diagnosis of ADHD and major depression, 6 with schizophrenia, 3 with obsessive compulsive disorder, 2 with alcohol dependence, 4 with autism spectrum disorders, and 3 with mental retardation. There were no significant differences in age, YIAS score, online game-playing time, K-ARS scores, BAI-K scores, or IQ among the four groups. However, the YIAS-parent scores in the MMORPG group were higher than those in the other three groups (F=6.2, p<0.01). The BDI-K scores in the "others" group were higher than that in the RTS group (F=3.4, p=0.02) (Table 1). There were no significant differences in psychiatric comorbidity among the 4 groups (Table 1).

Table 1

Demographic characteristics

Social factors

There were significant group differences with regard to social anxiety (F=8.5, p<0.01) and self-esteem (F=4.8, p<0.01). In post-hoc testing, the mean Social Anxiety Scale score was higher in the MMORPG group than in the other three groups. The mean social anxiety score was lower in the FPS group than in the other three groups. Both subscales of the social anxiety scale, social avoidance (F=8.2, p<0.01) and social anxiety (F=6.8, p<0.01), had higher mean scores in the MMORPG group than in the other three groups. Self-esteem scores in the RTS group were higher than those in the other three groups. Scores on a subscale of self-esteem, SES-group, were higher in the RTS group than in the other three groups (F=7.2, p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in subscale scores for SES-individual (Table 2).

Table 2

Comparisons of social factors and impulsivity among the four groups

Correlations among YIAS-K scores, SADS scores, and SES scores

After controlling for age, FES score, and SES-K score, social anxiety was positively correlated with the YIAS score in the MMORPG group (r=0.428, p<0.01). After controlling for age, FES score, and SADS score, self-esteem was positively correlated with YIAS score in the RTS group (r=0.39, p<0.01) (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Correlation of YIAS-K score with SADS score and of YIAS-K score with Self-Esteem (SES) score. A: Partial correlation between Social Anxiety Scale score and YIAS score in the MMORPG group (r=0.428, p<0.01). B: Partial correlation between SES Scale score and YIAS score in the RTS group (r=0.39, p<0.01). YIAS-K: Young Internet Addiction-Korean, RTS: real-time strategy.

MMORPG

Many studies, including several of the general population in Korea, have suggested that the MMORPG genre is strongly associated with a high degree of problematic online game play.111643444546 Similarly, the MMORPG group in the current research had a higher degree of Internet addiction, as measured by the YIAS score reported by parents, than the other game genre groups. This finding suggests that the MMORPG genre is particularly likely to lead to gaming addiction in general online game players as well as in problematic online gamers, and that MMORPG gamers seem to be more highly addicted than gamers in other genres. This phenomenon might be partially explained by the characteristics of MMORPGs, such as the endless series of games and their variable reinforcement schedules that encourage continued game play, similar to gambling.47

Upon detailed examination of the results, the MMORPG group showed higher social anxiety and avoidance than the other groups. In previous studies, players who played MMORPGs to escape from reality experienced more problems as a consequence of gaming than those playing MMORGs for other reasons.4849 Extending these findings, our research suggests that individual social functioning is a crucial factor influencing the desire to escape from reality and achieve relief and reduced anxiety or concerns. High personal social anxiety and high social avoidance tend to make people anxious and distressed when facing various social concerns, such as academic problems, problems in relationships with friends, and worries about the future. A cyber reality space like that found in MMOPRG games might allow players to feel they are escaping from their real social problems. Because escapism is a strong predictor of problematic gaming behavior,49 social anxiety and avoidance are typical personal characteristics of problematic online gamers, especially in players of MMORPGs. Our finding is consistent with a randomized experiment that showed MMORPGs impact the development of social and emotional skills of the players.6 From this result, we can cautiously deduce that MMORPGs might also aggravate players' poor social skills, creating a vicious cycle. Therefore, the clearest theme that emerges from the present study is that, when approaching a problematic MMORPG gamer, we should assess the player's social factors and tendencies in order to predict the progress of addictive behaviors and determine the future prognosis and therapeutic goals that might improve the player's social ability in the real world.

FPS

On the other end of the spectrum, social anxiety was lowest in the FPS group compared to the other three groups. An earlier study showed that most online FPS players do not play in isolation, and a social interaction motive was the strongest predictor of the duration of time spent on FPS play.50 Additionally, FPS players tend to be more competitive, seek challenges, and get excited by doing so.50 Since FPS players control the game character from a first-person view, their selfconfidence is crucial for high scores and game amusement in this competition. Additionally, the highly immersive nature of FPS games, as well as their potential for online competition, achievements, and social aspects might contribute to high rates of excessive FPS gaming. Social-seeking behavior is inversely related to social anxiety and avoidance, which suggests that the low social anxiety of FPS players compared to that of those in the other three groups reflects their personal characteristics and motivation.

RTS

Self-esteem was higher in the RTS group than in the other three groups. This suggests that the strategic simulation information tasks of RTS games are more enjoyable when the gamer's self-esteem is stronger. Moreover, an RTS game involves many challenging tasks involving rapid switching, multiple sources of information, and multiple actions, which might lead to substantial cognitive flexibility.51 To be successful, a player must cope with simultaneous and rapidly evolving game situations and sub-situations occurring in real-time while also managing funds, resources, and information regarding the opponent. Self-esteem can have a decisive effect on judgment and decision making in managing multiple, simultaneous game strategies, reducing gamer anxiety and enhancing performance. Additionally, the lower social anxiety and social avoidance scores of RTS players compared to MMORPG players might be associated with the higher self-esteem found in these users. Thus, relatively high self-esteem and low social anxiety and avoidance seem to be the main individual characteristics in the RTS group.

Others

In the last group in this study, those who mainly play arcades games, sports online games, and casual games, gamers tended to be more depressed than in the other three groups. They had BDI test scores ranging from 16 to 23, indicative of moderate depression. In contrast, the other three groups' BDI scores showed mild depression levels. The games in the "others" group have relatively simple designs with easy general game rules compared to other game genres; thus, these gamers' motivations and attitudes in choosing these games might include a desire for less challenging games. It is likely that people who have less volition or energy or some sort of difficulty concentrating, possibly due to depressed mood, could approach this genre of games more readily than other, more complex game genres.

The limitations of this study and suggestions for future research are addressed here. First, because this study is correlational and cross-sectional, the order of causality is not determined. Thus, it remains unclear whether the personal characteristics of the individuals in each game genre contributed to their genre selection and subsequent addiction or whether being preoccupied with a specific game genre creates or reinforces such characteristics. Second, the sample we used was self-selected, so its ability to represent problematic online game users in each game genre and to generalize our results to the general population might be limited. Third, due to the absence of a comparison group to represent the healthy population, questions remain about the meaningful differences between problematic online game users and healthy subjects.

Future research that includes prospective methods, such as follow-up, would add to the current study's findings. Moreover, observing gamer sociality, self-esteem, and other personal characteristics could aid understanding of causality between personal characteristics and gaming problems including gaming addiction. Additionally, it would be interesting to study whether individuals with changes in brain pathophysiology according to addiction level and treatment outcome have associated changes in sociality, self-esteem, and other features.

When evaluating and providing treatment to problematic online gamers, we can assess gamers' specific characteristics and psychopathological problems to look for a healthy balance. Assessing the treatment response regarding addictive behavior for online games might be represented by measuring the degree of improvement in defective characteristics within each game genre. Finally, the role of personality in game genre preference remains an important open question for ongoing research. Although the addictive personality hypothesis has largely fallen from scientific favor, game genre might ultimately mediate the causal relationships between personal characteristics, such as sensation seeking or impulsivity, and problematic video game play.

Conclusions

In this study, we found that sociality, represented by social anxiety, self-esteem, and familial environment, was correlated with game genre preference. However, impulsivity was not correlated with game genre. Moreover, individuals' specific characteristics, such as social anxiety, appeared to be strongly associated with gaming-related problems, similar to addictive issues in the MMORPG group, and self-esteem was intimately related to addictive behavior in the RTS group.