The Association Between Causality Orientation and Internet Gaming Disorder, and the Role of Sensation Seeking, Anxiety, and Depression
- Author:
Yanjie PENG
1
;
Yuxiang WANG
;
Zhenle PENG
;
Xiaoyuan LIAO
;
Ke GONG
;
Cheng QIN
;
Mingyuan TIAN
;
Xiaotong CHENG
;
Xinyi ZHOU
;
Juan DENG
;
Yuwen CHEN
;
Shuang FENG
;
Maomao ZHANG
;
Kezhi LIU
;
Bo XIANG
;
Wei LEI
;
Jing CHEN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Psychiatry Investigation 2024;21(11):1268-1278
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:Self-determination theory (SDT) deems that people have three causality orientations: autonomy orientation, control orientation, and impersonal orientation. Previous studies suggested that lower autonomy orientation or higher control and impersonal orientations may be associated with more addictive behaviors. Our study aimed to investigate if these associations exist in Internet gaming disorder (IGD), and if sensation seeking, anxiety, and depression could influence the associations between causality orientations and IGD symptoms.
Methods:A total of 1,400 college students completed the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, General Causality Orientation Scale, Brief Sensation Seeking Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire. Correlation, multiple linear regressions, structural equation model (SEM) analyses, and moderation analyses were conducted to explore the associations.
Results:The control and impersonal orientations were positively associated with IGD symptoms, while the autonomy orientation was negatively associated with them. Moreover, SEM analyses showed that the autonomy-IGD relationship was totally mediated by anxiety and depression, the impersonal-IGD relationship was partially mediated by anxiety, and the control-IGD relationship was partially mediated by depression. Finally, the effects of causality orientations on IGD were moderated by sensation seeking.
Conclusion:Overall, autonomy orientation is linked to fewer gaming problems, whereas control and impersonal orientations are associated with more gaming problems. Moreover, the relationships between causality orientations and IGD symptoms are mediated by anxiety and depression and moderated by sensation seeking. Our findings inform theory on the motivations of gaming behaviors and may shed light on the prevention and intervention of IGD from the perspective of SDT.
