Vasileios Stavropoulos1, Rapson Gomez2, Astrid Mueller3, Murat Yucel4, Mark Griffiths5. 1. Victoria university, College of Health and Biomedicine, MelbourneFootscray Nicholson Campus, Australia. Electronic address: Vasilisstavropoylos80@gmail.com. 2. Federation University, Mount Helen, Australia. 3. Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: Mueller.Astrid@mh-hannover.de. 4. Monash University, Clayton, Australia. Electronic address: murat.yucel@monash.edu. 5. Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: mark.griffiths@ntu.ac.uk.
Abstract
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 (Mage = 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.
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 (Mage = 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.
Authors: Vasileios Stavropoulos; Tyler Michael John Frost; Taylor Brown; Peter Gill; Trent Anthony Footitt; Lee Kannis-Dymand Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2021-05-20 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Vasileios Stavropoulos; Emily Barber; Gabriel de Sena Collier; Jeffrey G Snodgrass; Rapson Gomez Journal: Child Psychiatry Hum Dev Date: 2021-05-25
Authors: Akram Hernández-Vásquez; Rodrigo Vargas-Fernández; Fabriccio J Visconti-Lopez; Daniel Comandé; Guido Bendezu-Quispe Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-08-15 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Lisa Raith; Julie Bignill; Vasileios Stavropoulos; Prudence Millear; Andrew Allen; Helen M Stallman; Jonathan Mason; Tamara De Regt; Andrew Wood; Lee Kannis-Dymand Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2021-06-30