Abstract: (949 Views)
Aims: Internet gaming disorder is a growing global concern; however, further research is needed to deepen the understanding of the disorder in order to develop more effective treatment strategies. This research aimed to examine the mediating role of social connectedness in the relationship between perceived social support and internet gaming disorder among emerging adults in Malaysia.
Instrument & Methods: This quantitative study investigated the mediating role of social connectedness between perceived social support and internet gaming disorder among emerging adults aged 18 to 29 years in Malaysia between July 2023 and May 2024. The participants were evenly distributed across various states. The selection criteria included non-professional gamers, a minimum score of 32 on the IGDS9-SF, and at least 12 months of gaming experience. Respondent-driven sampling was implemented, starting with 20 seeds and ultimately resulting in 389 participants.
Findings: Social connectedness served as a full mediator in the relationship between perceived social support and internet gaming disorder, indicating that perceived social support affects internet gaming disorder indirectly through social connectedness. Higher perceived social support predicted lower internet gaming disorder (β=-0.192), higher perceived social support predicts higher social connectedness (β=-0.458), and higher social connectedness predicts lower internet gaming disorder (β=0.323).
Conclusion: Social connectedness significantly mediates the relationship between perceived social support and internet gaming disorder.
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