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Playing Support: Social Connectedness Amongst Male Videogame Players
Abstract
While video games are becoming increasingly social, little is known regarding whether games might also facilitate social support. In tandem, while both genders experience similar overall rates of mental illness [1], men seek and use health services less often than women [2]. A series of interviews (N=15) were held with male social video game players to determine if video game play provides a means for them to access social support. Preliminary analyses suggest that games afford a means of gaining support from new connections, describes how these trusting relationships develop, and demonstrates that gameplay itself offers some emotional benefits. This research contributes to the understanding of how men use technology to support their emotional and social needs.
... They found that two fifths of respondents to their online survey would often discuss issues with online friends that they would not discuss with friends in real life [10]. A similar finding emerged from a series of interviews with male gamers conducted by Vella et al. [55]. Participants expressed that online friendships offered a safe space to talk about real-world problems. ...
... Because they were viewed as non-judgemental, and otherwise removed from the crisis, they were perceived by participants to be able to offer more perspective. They also found that players who developed such a bond were close enough to discern each others' moods based only on behavior [55]. These benefits resonate with the work of Bargh [4], who found that individuals were more easily able to express their true selves during online interactions. ...
... In some cases, these negative emotions were difficult to relieve through other means, i.e. it was easier to fight digital monsters than yell at people [23]. A similar result emerged in the previously discussed work of Vella et al. with male gamers [55], where online gaming was described as cathartic, and a productive way to deal with real-world frustrations. ...
In 2020, the rapid spread of COVID-19 forced many people to self-isolate, resulting in struggles with mental health [60], and an increase in gaming [3]. In this paper, we seek to examine how individuals used digital games during the quarantine. We conducted a two-tier qualitative study where we used a thematic analysis of tweets to derive questions for an online survey that we distributed. Results of thematic analysis of survey responses identified 15 themes. Some themes confirm previous works' findings, particularly how games are used to increase social connection or distract oneself from unpleasant situations. We also found new themes unique to the quarantine, such as interactions with non-player characters used as a surrogate for real-world interaction and using in-game routines as a substitute to real-world routines lost due to the pandemic. This work discusses the use of games during the pandemic and can be seeds for future studies. CCS CONCEPTS • Human-centered computing → Empirical studies in HCI.
... For male players, while loneliness is slightly higher than among their nonplaying counterparts, their sense of fitting in with students at school remains largely unaffected. Building upon findings from other studies, this gender disparity may stem from the fact that gaming culture often serves as a central pivot in males' friendships and interaction [30,87,88]. For girls, however, finding like-minded gender peers can be more challenging [59]. ...
... However, these effects were more pronounced among female players, who consistently responded lower life and health satisfaction, subjective well-being, future life expectations, as well as more depressive symptoms and sleeping problems. While there is a lack of comparable quantitative studies on gender and esports [36], previous qualitative research suggests that these gender differences may stem from the unique challenges and stressors that female players face in a predominantly male environment [46,[88][89][90][91]. Additionally, given that this study finds that female esports players report a more disadvantaged socio-economic background than their male peers, it is also possible that female players bring some of these stressors into the gaming sphere. ...
Electronic sports (esports) have evolved into a major cultural phenomenon in the 21st century, mirroring traditional sports with organized, competitive play. This study investigates the prevalence of esports participation and characteristics of esports players among Norwegian adolescents. Using data from the Ungdata survey, a comprehensive web-based survey of Norwegian adolescents that includes questions on demographics, health, physical activity, social relations, and leisure activities such as gaming and esports, we analyzed responses from 70,695 students aged 16–18 years collected during 2021–2023. We conclude that about one out of twenty in the age group of 16–18 years actively engage in esports. The figure conceals significant gender differences: only 0.7% of girls, compared to 8.8% of boys, actively participate in esports. While female esports players differ noticeably from non-players on almost all indicators included in our analyses, the picture among boys reflects more similarities between esports players and other boys, than differences. Among the esports players, females almost consistently reported more negative experiences than males, including less physical socialization, lower self-rated health, higher rates of loneliness and sleeping problems, and a greater difficulty fitting in at school. Despite these negative aspects, esports players maintain close friendships similar to their non-playing peers.
... In addition, preliminary findings suggest that people may play games as a way to cope during times of emotional distress [1][2][3]37]. At this stage however, it is unclear whether games play a similar role to ICTs during difficult life experience, e.g., through the social networks and connections that games can provide [8,42], or whether they influence coping in different ways, such as providing an escape through entertainment [38]. ...
... These effects were further mediated by online social support suggesting that, at least in part, games are effective at promoting recovery because of the opportunities they provide for socialising. In work focused on male gamers, Vella and colleagues [42] also indicate that online gaming can lead to positive emotions such as competence and camaraderie, and suggest that the activity provides players with a way to access social support. In particular they note how voice chat can help develop trust between players, creating opportunities to bond over gaming experiences and to discuss emotional issues. ...
HCI has become increasingly interested in the use of technology during difficult life experiences. Yet despite considerable popularity, little is known about how and why people engage with games in times of personal difficulty. Based on a qualitative analysis of an online survey (N=95), our findings indicate that games offered players much needed respite from stress, supported them in dealing with their feelings, facilitated social connections, stimulated personal change and growth, and provided a lifeline in times of existential doubt. However, despite an emphasis on gaming as being able to support coping in ways other activities did not, participants also referred to games as unproductive and as an obstacle to living well. We discuss these findings in relation to both coping process and outcome, while considering tensions around the potential benefits and perceived value of gaming.
... In addition, preliminary findings suggest that people may play games as a way to cope during times of emotional distress [1][2][3]37]. At this stage however, it is unclear whether games play a similar role to ICTs during difficult life experience, e.g., through the social networks and connections that games can provide [8,42], or whether they influence coping in different ways, such as providing an escape through entertainment [38]. ...
... These effects were further mediated by online social support suggesting that, at least in part, games are effective at promoting recovery because of the opportunities they provide for socialising. In work focused on male gamers, Vella and colleagues [42] also indicate that online gaming can lead to positive emotions such as competence and camaraderie, and suggest that the activity provides players with a way to access social support. In particular they note how voice chat can help develop trust between players, creating opportunities to bond over gaming experiences and to discuss emotional issues. ...
HCI has become increasingly interested in the use of technology during difficult life experiences. Yet despite considerable popularity, little is known about how and why people engage with games in times of personal difficulty. Based on a qualitative analysis of an online survey (N=95), our findings indicate that games offered players much needed respite from stress, supported them in dealing with their feelings, facilitated social connections, stimulated personal change and growth, and provided a lifeline in times of existential doubt. However, despite an emphasis on gaming as being able to support coping in ways other activities did not, participants also referred to games as unproductive and as an obstacle to living well. We discuss these findings in relation to both coping process and outcome, while considering tensions around the potential benefits and perceived value of gaming.
... However, gamers who play to socialize are likely to develop pro-social behaviors and seek games focused on building relationships (Fu et al., 2017). Although it is true that building social relationships exclusively online can increase the risk of developing problematic behavior, socializing in video games can help to develop shared interests, improve leadership skills, and increase sports performance (Badrinarayanan et al., 2015;Mao, 2021;Vella et al., 2016). ...
Structural characteristics of video games influence the development of maladaptive behavioral patterns such as Internet gaming disorder (IGD). The aim of this study was to develop and validate a tool to evaluate users’ perceptions of video game structural features. The sample was composed of 502 gamers with an average age of 23.35 years (SD = 6.89). In total, 67.3% used a personal computer, 20.7% a desktop console, 11.4% a mobile platform, and 0.6% a portable console. Multiple exploratory factor analyses were conducted to identify the optimal model. Initial evidence of reliability, construct, and external validity was found (TLI and CFI > .90, RMSEA < .06, SRMR < .08). Structural features were categorized into three primary factors: social, control, and reward. After a multiple linear regression, structural features and gaming motivations explain 19% of the variance in IGD. In conclusion, the scale demonstrates solid psychometric properties for assessing how Spanish-speaking players perceive the structural characteristics of video games and how these relate to the development of IGD.
... Firstly, video games can repair negative mood and help people better cope with unwanted emotions, enabling players to find a relief from frustration and distress (Reinecke et al., 2012;Bowman and Tamborini, 2015), as well as providing escapism, a term that normally points to an avoidance of the "real" (Calleja, 2010;Evans, 2001), but may also offer enjoyment and facilitate stress relief (Kardefelt-Winther, 2014;Hussain et al., 2021). Secondly, video games entail complex social worlds that bring people together to reach collective goals, also strengthening family bonds (Durkin and Barber, 2002), producing a sense of belonging (Vella et al., 2019) and complementing offline relationships (Vella et al., 2016). ...
Possible side effects of using web job boards in the e-recruitment context, such as candidates
dropping out from the hiring process, may emerge if these tools are not transparent about data
usage, collection, and processing. In response, we developed a novel web job board designed
to enhance transparency, simulating a job-matching recommender system. A qualitative study
with 20 Italian participants, combining direct observation of the job board use with the
Thinking Aloud protocol and interviews, examines participants’ privacy behaviours in terms of
data disclosure and seclusion. Findings indicate a general willingness among participants to
share personal data, except for information related to their identity. We found that both the
design of the job board and the meanings ascribed by participants to data shaped their privacy
behaviours. Features enhancing user understanding of data usage and control of privacy
settings were positively received, underscoring the importance of design in fostering thoughtful
engagement with job board technologies. We contribute to research on privacy behaviours in
the context of job search and we draw suggestions from the study findings on how to design
platforms that support data protection and allow safe and purposeful disclosure of personal
data, sustaining job seekers throughout the recruitment process.
... Firstly, video games can repair negative mood and help people better cope with unwanted emotions, enabling players to find a relief from frustration and distress (Reinecke et al., 2012;Bowman and Tamborini, 2015), as well as providing escapism, a term that normally points to an avoidance of the "real" (Calleja, 2010;Evans, 2001), but may also offer enjoyment and facilitate stress relief (Kardefelt-Winther, 2014;Hussain et al., 2021). Secondly, video games entail complex social worlds that bring people together to reach collective goals, also strengthening family bonds (Durkin and Barber, 2002), producing a sense of belonging (Vella et al., 2019) and complementing offline relationships (Vella et al., 2016). ...
... The HCI community has not only designed and developed novel video games and modalities for interacting with them, like affective gaming systems that rely on physiological interaction (e.g., through emotion control), rather than on conventional devices (e.g., joystick; Bersak et al., 2001). It has also explored in depth the individual, social, and organizational dynamics of play: A variety of research highlighted, for example, that people may develop new affective bonds by playing video games or may use them to maintain and rework their existing relations (Rapp, 2018;Vella et al., 2016). Moreover, players may create stable organizational structures to solve complex in-game problems, which entail organizational assimilation dynamics, mentoring practices, hierarchies, and leaderships, which are conditioned by how the games are designed (Rapp, 2018(Rapp, , 2020b. ...
Human–computer interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary field of research that focuses on the understanding and design of interaction between humans and computers. HCI has its roots in human factors and ergonomics and cognitive sciences, but over the years, it has undergone a variety of deep transformations, by importing a variety of approaches, theories, and methods from other disciplines, like anthropology and sociology. In History of HCI, Theories of HCI, and Methods of HCI sections, the evolution of the discipline, as well as its theories and methods, is described. Moreover, three different promising strands of HCI research are pointed out in the Lines of Research in HCI section, showing the theoretical and methodological complexity that HCI is facing at the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century.
... As regards social relations, research pointed out how video games may strengthen family bonds (Durkin & Barber, 2002), as well as provide a complementary function to offline non-game relationships (Vella et al., 2016). Moreover, Banks and Cole (2016) surveyed US military and veteran gamers regarding their use of digital games, finding that they were used to cope with the challenges of military service, giving players the opportunity to connect with civilians as well as to find support from other military personnel. ...
The COVID-19 pandemic led to dramatic changes in people's lives. The Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) community widely investigated technology use during crises. However, commercial video games received minor attention. In this article, we describe how video game play impacted the life transformations engendered by the pandemic. We administered a qualitative online survey to 330 video game players who were living in Italy during the lockdown measures. We found that the COVID-19 pandemic altered the participants' sense of time and space, reshaped both their intimate and wider social interactions, and elicited a wide spectrum of disturbing emotions. Players escaped from this unsatisfying reality into video game worlds, searching for a new normality that could compensate for the unpredict-ability and dangerousness of the pandemic life, as well as seeking uncertainty in the game environments to balance the flatness of the lockdown everydayness. In doing so, they "appropriated" the gaming technologies, which also led to several unexpected outcomes. Starting from these findings , we propose a model of escapism that points out four ways to escape from reality into video game worlds. Moreover, we outline some design implications that might inspire future strands of research in the field of crisis technologies.
... Our conceptualisation of ordinary PX, however, has drawn attention to work demonstrating that more literate players often engage co-attentively with games typically theorised as immersive or flowinducing [e.g., 24,112,137]. Collectively, these instances challenge prevalent assumptions about how play can benefit player wellbeing -for example, the capacity to talk through the events of a bad day while playing competitive multiplayer games does not seem to follow from experiencing flow or immersion [154], but rather co-attentiveness. Considering co-attentiveness in this context is not only to observe its prevalence outside mobile and casual game play [24,74]; rather, it is also to see other ways to derive wellbeing benefits from engagement with more conventional videogames. ...
Videogames' increasing cultural relevance and suffusion into everyday use contexts suggests they can no longer be considered novelties. Broadly speaking, games research at CHI has concerned two forms of peak experience-historically, research aimed to support flow, or maximise enjoyment and positive emotions; more recently, scholarship engages with more varied experiences of intense emotion, such as emotional challenge. In different ways, both approaches emphasise extraordinary player experience (PX). Conversely, videogame play and PX have become more routine-indeed, more ordinary-as the medium's cultural presence grows. In this paper, we argue that HCI games research is conceptually ill-equipped to investigate these increasingly common and often desirable experiences. We conceptualise "ordinary player experience"-as familiar, emotionally moderate, co-attentive, and abstractly memorable-articulating a phenomenon whose apparent mundanity has seen it elude description to date. We discuss opportunities to productively employ ordinary PX in HCI games research, alongside conceptual implications for PX and player wellbeing.
... In study 1, we conducted individual interviews with both male and female videogame players (N = 16) on the topic of social connectedness and wellbeing (Vella, Klarkowski, Johnson, Hides, Wyeth 2016). Study 2 interviews were conducted individually with male videogame players (N = 15) with a focus on social connectedness (Vella, Johnson, Mitchell 2016). Study 3 interviews (individual and in focus groups) were conducted with both male and female videogame players (N = 36) tasked with determining how to build a tool that would facilitate social connectedness amongst players. ...
While online multiplayer games provide an opportunity for players to both maintain and establish new connections, male and female players have been found to experience these environments differently. Interviews (n = 22) and focus groups (n = 14) were used to explore these differences as they impact on creating new social connections, as well as to provide recommendations for the development of new social tools and features that account for these differences. While all participants experienced toxicity and performance pressure as barriers to forming new connections, female players uniquely reported the impacts of misogynistic targeting and stereotype threat. In turn, female players wishing to avoid these stresses would often mask their gender. The common practice of gender misrepresentation by both male and female players impacted female players' ability to create social connections through voice technology, as well as building their distrust of unknown others. Recommendations are made to build social connectedness between players taking into account the specific constraints faced by female players. These include establishing mentoring opportunities as well as profiling players beyond their immediate skill or rank. Additionally, the desire for control of one's online identity presents practical challenges that may be overcome through thoughtful design.
... There is a lack of research investigating the role of biofeedback in social play. Generally speaking, playing with other people can constitute a rich and meaningful experience capable of fostering a sense of connectedness [41]. ...
Biofeedback holds great potential for augmenting game play, but research to date has focussed predominantly on single player games. This paper proposes an interactional approach, which emphasises how multiple players engage with biofeedback and one another to make sense of the feedback and to incorporate it into their game play. To explore this approach in the context of the dice game Mia, we designed AMIA (Augmented Mia), a prototype system that gives feedback on heart rate, skin conductance, and skin temperature on a player's hat or armband. A study with 21 participants showed that biofeedback was ambiguous, but nevertheless participants harnessed it as a hint about their opponents' strategies, as a means of distraction, as a handicap when players could not see their own feedback as it was presented on their hat, and as a point of connection with other players. We discuss the mechanisms underlying these interactions and present design opportunities along spatial, temporal, and compositional dimensions of biofeedback that encourage and heighten social interaction.
Attitudes informing the use of technologies by the youth health workforce to improve young people's wellbeing: Understanding the nature of the "digital disconnect" Using a mixed-method approach, this study investigated: 1. the current role of technologies in improving young people's mental health; 2. the youth health workforce's attitudes towards the use of technologies to improve young people's mental health; and 3. how this workforce currently employs these technologies. Many participants believed that technologies play a considerable role in the lives of most young people and have the potential to influence mental health and wellbeing. Despite this potential, they are poorly understood and under-utilised in mental health promotion and the prevention, early intervention and treatment of mental ill-health. Participants commented that this situation could be improved if barriers to their use of technologies were overcome. Further research and investment is necessary to secure appropriate technological infrastructure in mental health services and in training staff to better understand young people's technology use and the range of technological strategies available to them. 15 Understanding the nature of the "digital disconnect" ver a quarter of all young Australians aged 16 to 24 experience a mental health difficulty in any one year (Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2010). Suicide rates remain high, with suicide one of the foremost causes of death in the 15-to 24-year-old age group (ABS 2011). Mental ill-health has enormous economic implications. It is estimated that in 2009 the direct costs of untreated mental illness in Australian young people totalled $10.6 billion (Access Economics 2009). Unless addressed, the effects of mental ill-health can persist over an individual's lifetime (Costello, Foley & Angold 2006) and lead to further occupational, economic and interpersonal difficulties. Presently, only 29% of young Australians with a mental health difficulty seek help when they need it (Burns et al. 2010; Slade et al. 2009) and timely and evidence-based treatments are only encountered by a small proportion of those young people who do receive care (Libby et al. 2007; Andrews et al. 2000). For many young Australians, information communication technologies are an integral part of their everyday lives, with over 95% of Australian young people using the internet (Ewing, Thomas & Schiessi 2008). Good evidence exists that technologies can be used effectively to improve mental health and wellbeing (Griffiths, Farrer & Christenssen 2010; Spek et al. 2007), especially among young people (Ryan, Schochet & Stallman 2010; Christensen & Hickie 2010; Burns et al. 2010). For those experiencing mental ill-health, the strategic use of technologies can help to overcome barriers to help-seeking such as physical access, confidentiality concerns and stigma (Gould et al. 2002). Acceptance of the use of technologies for improved mental health is high, as many young people have an affinity with mobile phones and the online environment (Iafusco, Ingenito & Prisco 2000). For those wishing to improve their overall wellbeing, technologies can assist in promoting social inclusion, access to material resources and freedom from discrimination and violence (Burns & Blanchard 2009; Burns et al. 2009). While positive results are seen from the use of self-directed eHealth interventions, there is some evidence that these are most effective if used as part of a stepped care model (Van Straten et al. 2010), with the support of a trained professional (Perini, Titov & Andrews 2009; Titov et al. 2009) or as an adjunct to face-to-face treatment (Hickie et al. 2010). Little is known about the attitudes of the youth health workforce towards the role that technologies play in young people's lives and their potential impact, both positive and negative, on mental health and wellbeing (Blanchard et al. 2008; Burns et al. 2009; Metcalf et al. 2008). Similarly, the way that members of the youth health workforce use these technologies in practice, or to access education and training, is not well understood. In light of this evidence on the usefulness of technologies, it is timely to investigate whether the youth health workforce has the capacity to support young people's engagement with technologies in ways that benefit their wellbeing. By the "youth health workforce"we mean those practitioners working in a range of roles across mental health promotion and the prevention, early intervention and treatment of mental ill-health, such as youth workers, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, mental health or psychiatric nurses, community development and arts practitioners, general practitioners and psychiatrists.
This paper reports the results of a controlled field experiment in which voice communication was introduced into an existing online community (online gaming guilds within the popular game "World of Warcraft"), comparing a mix of voice and text with text only. Quantitative results suggest increases in liking and trust due to the addition of voice, as well as insulation from unexpected negative impacts of text-only play. The findings are discussed with respect to social capital, cyberbalkanization, and the general computer-mediated communication literature, with special attention paid to social information processing theory.
Four studies apply self-determination theory (SDT; Ryan & Deci, 2000) in investigating motivation for computer game play,
and the effects of game play on well-being. Studies 1–3 examine individuals playing 1, 2 and 4 games, respectively and show
that perceived in-game autonomy and competence are associated with game enjoyment, preferences, and changes in well-being
pre- to post-play. Competence and autonomy perceptions are also related to the intuitive nature of game controls, and the
sense of presence or immersion in participants’ game play experiences. Study 4 surveys an on-line community with experience
in multi-player games. Results show that SDT’s theorized needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness independently predict
enjoyment and future game play. The SDT model is also compared with Yee’s (2005) motivation taxonomy of game play motivations.
Results are discussed in terms of the relatively unexplored landscape of human motivation within virtual worlds.
Men's health has emerged as an important public concern that may require new kinds of healthcare interventions and increased resources. Considerable uncertainty and confusion surround prevailing understandings of men's health, particularly those generated by media debate and public policy, and health research has often operated on oversimplified assumptions about men and masculinity. A more useful way of understanding men's health is to adopt a gender-relations approach. This means examining health concerns in the context of men's and women's interactions with each other, and their positions in the larger, multidimensional structure of gender relations. Such an approach raises the issue of differences among men, which is a key issue in recent research on masculinity and an important health issue. The gender-relations approach offers new ways of addressing practical issues of healthcare for men in college environments.
To date, most research into massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) has examined the demographics of play. This study explored the social interactions that occur both within and outside of MMORPGs. The sample consisted of 912 self-selected MMORPG players from 45 countries. MMORPGs were found to be highly socially interactive environments providing the opportunity to create strong friendships and emotional relationships. The study demonstrated that the social interactions in online gaming form a considerable element in the enjoyment of playing. The study showed MMORPGs can be extremely social games, with high percentages of gamers making life-long friends and partners. It was concluded that virtual gaming may allow players to express themselves in ways they may not feel comfortable doing in real life because of their appearance, gender, sexuality, and/or age. MMORPGs also offer a place where teamwork, encouragement, and fun can be experienced.
Video game play is becoming an increasingly social experience, yet we have little understanding of how social and solitary modes of play differ in terms of the player experience or interact with player wellbeing. An online survey (n = 446) collected data on players' current mode of play, their game play experience, social capital gained from game play and wellbeing. The results indicate that social and solitary players differ in terms of degree of autonomy, presence and relatedness experienced, while the different types of social play are associated with differences in relatedness and social capital experienced. Different predictors of wellbeing were also present across solitary and social player samples. People who play games on their own experience greater wellbeing when experiencing in-game autonomy. Social players experience greater wellbeing when playing with strangers, and when experiencing in-game bridging social capital. All players experienced increased wellbeing with age and decreased wellbeing with greater amounts of play.
Cooperation and competition have emerged as factors that may affect video game players. Competition consistently has been found to elicit increased aggression whilst cooperation has been found to mitigate aggression and increase cooperative behaviors after game play. Of interest is the effect of the relationship between players (friend vs. stranger) in cooperative and competitive multiplayer contexts. In this study, we considered how game goal structure – competition or cooperation – and relationships between players – friend or stranger – affect aggression and cooperative behaviors. Compared with competition, cooperative play resulted in significantly more cooperative behaviors in a modified Prisoner’s Dilemma task. However, neither competitive nor cooperative goal structures significantly increased state hostility, suggesting that altering players’ gaming goals (e.g. competition or cooperation) may not be enough to elicit strong affective aggression. Additionally, cooperative game play was found to predict increased cooperative behaviors and trust in their partner. Implications of the findings are discussed.
"This book provides step-by-step instructions on how to analyze text generated from in-depth interviews and focus groups - i.e., transcripts. The book is primarily designed for research studies with an applied focus, but is also useful for theoretically oriented qualitative research. The book covers all aspects of the qualitative data analysis process including planning, data preparation, identification of themes, codebook development and code application, reliability and inter-coder agreement, data reduction techniques, comparative techniques, integration with quantitative data, and software considerations. The book describes what the authors call "applied thematic analysis", because it is the approach predominantly used in applied qualitative studies (and increasingly in academic contexts). The method employs a phenomenological approach to data analysis which has a primary aim of describing the experiences and perceptions of research participants. The approach presented is similar to Grounded Theory - in that it is inductive, content-driven, and searches for themes within textual data - and is complementary to Grounded Theory on many levels. However, within an applied context a phenomenological approach is primarily concerned with characterizing and summarizing perceptions and lived experiences and applying the results to a particular research problem, rather than building and assessing theoretical models"--
Despite much research on video/computer game play, especially the relationship between such play and aggression, little attention has been directed at needs met through play. The aim of the present study was to extend Selnow’s (1984) needs’ scale, and to identify individual differences in needs among adolescents. Focus groups were conducted, followed by a content analysis, and items corresponding to emerging themes were added to reasons identified in previous research for use in a quantitative survey. Four factors emerged from a factor analysis of the results; ‘companionship’, ‘prefer to friends’, ‘fun challenge’, and ‘stress relief’, and these, with the exception of ‘companionship’, were found to be significant predictors of play.
Video-based media spaces are designed to support casual interaction between intimate collaborators. Yet transmitting video is fraught with privacy concerns. Some researchers suggest that the video stream be filtered to mask out potentially sensitive ...
This study examines the impact of collective MMORPG play on gamers’ social capital in both the virtual world and the real world. Collective MMORPG play is conceptualized as the frequency of joint gaming actions and gamers’ assessment of the experience in MMORPG guilds and groups. Social capital at the individual level refers to the resources and support provided by bonding and bridging social networks; collective-level social capital refers to people’s civic engagement. A two-wave online survey was conducted to collect data from 232 Chinese MMORPG players.Two structural equation models were developed to test whether collective play influences offline social capital via the mediation of online social capital; the results did not demonstrate the existence of mediation effects. Specifically, collective play positively influences gamers’ online bonding social capital, online bridging social capital and online civic engagement. The effect of collective play on offline bonding and bridging social capital is not significant; the effect of online bonding/bridging social capital on offline bonding/bridging social capital is not significant either. The study finds a significantly positive impact of collective play on offline civic engagement. The effect of online civic engagement on offline civic engagement is not significant. In contrast with collective play, the time of gaming is found to negatively influence online and offline social capital.This study contributes to the knowledge of social capital because it tests the effects of new media on online and offline social capital in the Chinese culture. In addition, this study provides empirical evidence for the positive effects of online games and highlights the social experience in MMORPG play and how it influences gamers’ social networks and collective participation.
Online survey data were collected from 30,000 users of Massively Multi-User On- line Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) over a three year period to explore users' demographics, motivations, and derived experiences. Not only do MMORPGs ap- peal to a broad age range (Mage 26.57, range 11- 68), but the appeal is strong (on average 22 hours of usage per week) across users of all ages (r -.04). An exploratory factor analysis revealed a five factor model of user motivations— Achievement, Relationship, Immersion, Escapism, and Manipulation—illustrating the multifaceted appeal of these online environments. Male players were significantly more likely to be driven by the Achievement and Manipulation factors, while female players were significantly more likely to be driven by the Relationship factor. Also, the data indicated that users derived meaningful relationships and salient emotional experiences, as well as real-life leadership skills from these virtual environments. MMORPGs are not simply a pastime for teenagers, but a valuable research venue and platform where millions of users interact and collaborate using real-time 3D avatars on a daily basis.
Self-determination theory (SDT) maintains that an understanding of human motivation requires a consideration of innate psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. We discuss the SDT concept of needs as it relates to previous need theories, emphasizing that needs specify the necessary conditions for psychological growth, integrity, and well-being. This concept of needs leads to the hypotheses that different regulatory processes underlying goal pursuits are differentially associated with effective functioning and well-being and also that different goal contents have different relations to the quality of behavior and mental health, specifically because different regulatory processes and different goal contents are associated with differing degrees of need satisfaction. Social contexts and individual differences that support satisfaction of the basic needs facilitate natural growth processes including intrinsically motivated behavior and integration of extrinsic motivations, whereas those that forestall autonomy, competence, or relatedness are associated with poorer motivation, performance, and well-being. We also discuss the relation of the psychological needs to cultural values, evolutionary processes, and other contemporary motivation theories.
Mental disorders account for a large proportion of the disease burden in young people in all societies. Most mental disorders begin during youth (12-24 years of age), although they are often first detected later in life. Poor mental health is strongly related to other health and development concerns in young people, notably lower educational achievements, substance abuse, violence, and poor reproductive and sexual health. The effectiveness of some interventions for some mental disorders in this age-group have been established, although more research is urgently needed to improve the range of affordable and feasible interventions, since most mental-health needs in young people are unmet, even in high-income countries. Key challenges to addressing mental-health needs include the shortage of mental-health professionals, the fairly low capacity and motivation of non-specialist health workers to provide quality mental-health services to young people, and the stigma associated with mental disorder. We propose a population-based, youth focused model, explicitly integrating mental health with other youth health and welfare expertise. Addressing young people's mental-health needs is crucial if they are to fulfil their potential and contribute fully to the development of their communities.
Digital Australia Report 2016
- Jeffrey E Brand
- Stewart Todhunter
How League of Legends enables toxicity
- Yannick Lejacq
- LeJacq Yannick
Yannick LeJacq. 2015. How League of Legends enables
toxicity. Retrieved 11 July, 2016 from
http://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/03/how-league-oflegends-enables-toxicity/
National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results
- Australian Bureau
- Statistics