Anxiety Sensitivity in Online Gamers

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the levels of game addiction and anxiety sensitivity in young adults who play online games. Method: The study was conducted cross-sectionally on the sociodemographic data form, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index and the Game Addiction Scale Short Form, which were delivered to volunteers who reported that they played online games through an online research platform. Game addiction was evaluated according to the monothetic and polythetic formats of the scale. Results: 7.8% of the 438 participants are game addicts according to the Game Addiction Scale Short Form monothetic format, and 40.9% are game addicts according to the polythetic format. Anxiety sensitivity levels in game addicts are higher than in non-game addicts. Anxiety sensitivity is higher in women. According to the monothetic format, game addiction does not differ in terms of age, gender, marital status and educational status, and according to the polythetic format, game addiction is higher in undergraduate and widow/divorced individuals. Conclusion: As a trait-like factor, anxiety sensitivity may lay the groundwork for game addiction. The relationship between anxiety sensitivity and problematic game playing needs to be examined in more detail to screen depression and anxiety disorders.

Keywords

• Online gaming
• anxiety sensitivity
• game addiction scale
• monothetic format
• polythetic format

Çevrimiçi Oyun Oynayanlarda Anksiyete Duyarlılığı

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmada çevrimiçi oyun oynayan genç erişkinlerde, oyun bağımlılığı ve anksiyete duyarlılığı düzeylerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışma çevrimiçi bir araştırma platformu aracılığıyla çevrimiçi oyun oynadığını bildiren gönüllü katılımcılara iletilen sosyodemografik veri formu, Anksiyete Duyarlılığı İndeksi ve Oyun Bağımlılığı Ölçeği Kısa Formu üzerinden kesitsel olarak yürütülmüştür. Oyun bağımlılığı, ölçeğin monotetik ve politetik formatlarına göre değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: 438 katılımcının Oyun Bağımlılığı Ölçeği Kısa Form monotetik formatına göre %7.8’i, politetik formatına göre ise %40.9’u oyun bağımlısıdır. Oyun bağımlılarında anksiyete duyarlılığı düzeyleri, oyun bağımlısı olmayanlara göre daha yüksektir. Anksiyete duyarlılığı kadınlarda daha yüksektir. Monotetik formata göre oyun bağımlılığı yaş, cinsiyet, medeni durum ve eğitim durumu bakımından farklılık göstermemekle birlikte politetik formata göre lisans mezunları ve dul/boşanmış olanlarda oyun bağımlılığı daha yüksektir. Sonuç: Anksiyete duyarlılığı ayırıcı bir özellik (trait-like) olarak oyun bağımlılığına zemin hazırlıyor olabilir. Anksiyete duyarlılığı ile sorumlu oyun oynama arasındaki ilişkinin depresyon ve anksiyete bozukluklarını da tarayacak şekilde daha ayrıntılı incelenmesi gereklidir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Çevrimiçi oyun oynama
• anksiyete duyarlılığı
• oyun bağımlılığı ölçeği
• monotetik format
• politetik format

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