ArticleJournal of behavioral addictions2019
Problematic video game use as an emotional coping strategy: Evidence from a sample of MMORPG gamers.
Article in Journal of behavioral addictions, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 94 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
94 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A systematic review of internet addiction in hospitalized adolescents: proposing a hospital-adapted moderated dual mediation model of emotional dysregulation and social compensation.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- Parallel addictions: understanding the psychological and neurobehavioral damage of gaming and alcohol use in adolescents and young adults.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Escaping through virtual gaming-what is the association with emotional, social, and mental health? A systematic review.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Pooled it
- A comprehensive model to understand and assess the motivational background of video game use: The Gaming Motivation Inventory (GMI).Journal of behavioral addictions · 2022Pooled it
- The relationship between adolescent emotion dysregulation and problematic technology use: Systematic review of the empirical literature.Journal of behavioral addictions · 2022Pooled it
- Prevalence, conceptual distinctiveness, and cross-sectional correlates of climate worry in Canadian adolescents.Child and adolescent mental health · 2026Article
- Sex differences in the longitudinal association between high risk of internet gaming disorder and subsequent suicidality among adolescents: A cohort study.Journal of behavioral addictions · 2026Article
- Reconceptualizing online gaming in emerging adulthood: a phenomenological study.BMC psychology · 2026Article
- Association Between Dysfunctional Parenting Practices and Suspected Gaming Disorder Among Japanese Male Junior High School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study of Parental Assessment.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- Coping, escapism, and fantasy motives and depression symptoms mediate the relationship between emotion dysregulation and gaming disorder.Addictive behaviors reports · 2026Article
- Developmental Dynamics of Deviant Peer Affiliation and Internet Gaming Disorder: A Time-Varying Effect Modeling Approach.Journal of youth and adolescence · 2026Article
- Off-Label Medications and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS) in the Treatment of Internet Gaming Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Addictive behaviors reports · 2026Review
- Attitudes or norms? Self-esteem as a moderator of gaming intentions and gaming-related outcomes.BMC psychology · 2026Article
- Longing for the game: Identifying as a "gamer" and addiction-related nostalgia undermine recovery from gaming disorder.Journal of behavioral addictions · 2026Article
- Driven by motivation, fueled by rage, and struggling to disengage: a serial mediation model of internet gaming disorder in adolescents.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- A Critical Appraisal of the Links Between Video Gaming, Lifestyle Factors, Diet and Eating Behaviour: A Narrative Review.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Article
- Latent profiles of problematic internet use and their associations with physical activity levels among college students: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- The role of Machiavellianism, cyberbullying, and family relationships in adolescent gaming addiction: a problem behavior theory approach.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- A comparative interventional study on the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and attachment-based therapy in improving emotion regulation among adolescents with digital game addiction.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
34 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundA positive relationship between problematic gaming and escapism motivation to play video games has been well established, suggesting that problematic gaming may result from attempts to deal with negative emotions. However, to date, no study has examined how emotion dysregulation affects both escapism motives and problematic gaming patterns.
methodsDifficulties in emotion regulation, escapism, and problematic involvement with video games were assessed in a sample of 390 World of Warcraft players. A structural equation modeling framework was used to test the hypothesis that escapism mediates the relationship between emotion dysregulation and problematic gaming.
resultsStatistical analyses showed that difficulties in emotion regulation predicted both escapism motives and problematic gaming, and that escapism partially mediated this relationship.
conclusionOur findings support the view that problematic players are likely to escape in online games as a maladaptive coping strategy for dealing with adverse emotional experiences.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.