From Pixels to Isolation: The Role of Game Type in the Connection between Video Game Addiction and Loneliness

Öz

Aim: This research sought to explore whether the type of video game—interactive or non-interactive—acts as a moderator in the link between video game addiction and loneliness among university students. The main purpose of the present study was to determine whether the game type meaningfully alters the strength of this relationship.

Method: The sample consisted of 729 university students aged between 17 and 30 years (mean: 21.76±2.06). Participants completed the Video Game Addiction Scale and the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and were categorized according to their preferred game type (interactive vs. non-interactive). A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing relational screening and causal-comparative designs. Moderation analysis was conducted using PROCESS macro Model 1 (Hayes, 2013) in SPSS, with 2000 bootstrap samples, to assess the role of game type in the relationship between video game addiction and loneliness.

Results: The results indicated a notable positive correlation between video game addiction and loneliness. Furthermore, this relationship was observed to be more pronounced among individuals who primarily engaged in non-interactive games. The analysis also demonstrated that game type served as a significant moderator in the association between gaming addiction and loneliness.

Conclusion: The results indicate that game type should be taken into account when examining the psychological and social consequences of gaming. Individuals who predominantly engage in non-interactive games may experience heightened levels of loneliness in association with problematic gaming behaviors. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how digital game characteristics can affect players’ emotional and social well-being.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Video game addiction
• loneliness
• game type
• interactive game
• college students

Piksellerden İzolasyona: Video Oyunu Bağımlılığı ve Yalnızlık Arasındaki İlişkide Oyun Türünün Rolü

Öz

Amaç: Bu araştırmada, üniversite öğrencilerinde video oyunu bağımlılığı ile yalnızlık arasındaki ilişkide oyun türünün (etkileşimli/etkileşimsiz) düzenleyici rolünü incelemek amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmanın temel amacı, video oyunu türünün söz konusu ilişki üzerindeki etkisini ortaya koymaktır.

Yöntem: Araştırmanın örneklemini 17–30 yaş aralığında yer alan 729 üniversite öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır (Ort: 21,76±2,06). Katılımcılara Video Oyunu Bağımlılığı Ölçeği ile University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Yalnızlık Ölçeği uygulanmış ve oynadıkları oyun türüne göre (etkileşimli vs. etkileşimsiz) sınıflandırma yapılmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında nicel araştırma yöntemi kullanılmış, ilişkisel tarama ve nedensel karşılaştırma modellerinden yararlanılmıştır. Veriler doğrultusunda oyun türünün video oyunu bağımlılığı ile yalnızlık arasındaki ilişkide düzenleyici etkisi, SPSS ortamında Hayes (2013) tarafından geliştirilen PROCESS makrosu Model 1 kullanılarak 2000 bootstrap örneği ile analiz edilmiştir.

Bulgular: Elde edilen bulgular, video oyunu bağımlılığı ile yalnızlık arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı bir ilişki olduğunu göstermiştir. Ayrıca, bu ilişkinin etkileşimsiz oyunları tercih eden katılımcılarda daha güçlü olduğu bulunmuştur. Oyun türü, bağımlılık ve yalnızlık arasındaki ilişkiyi anlamlı düzeyde etkilemiş ve düzenleyici değişken olarak işlev görmüştür.

Sonuç: Araştırma bulguları, oyun bağımlılığı ile yalnızlık arasındaki ilişkide oyun türünün dikkate alınması gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Etkileşimsiz oyun türlerine yönelen bireylerde yalnızlık hissinin daha yoğun yaşanabileceği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Bu bulgular, dijital oyunların bireylerin sosyal ve duygusal yaşantılarına etkisini anlamada önemli bir katkı sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Video oyun bağımlılığı
• yalnızlık
• oyun türü
• etkileşimli oyun
• üniversite öğrencileri

Kaynakça

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