Association between Excessive Online Gaming and Feelings of Loneliness among University Students in Metro Manila.

Abstract

Play has always been part of human history. Now, a new playground, particularly in the virtual realm, thrives. The recent penetration of video games in popular culture has presented a lot of benefits, as well as drawbacks. As such, a study of excessive gaming may shed light on the habits of Filipino gamers and give academics an idea on how Filipino gamers act. Additionally, the recent addition of internet gaming disorder on the ICD-11, and the admission of the APA of its worthiness of further study lend credence to this research. This study investigates the relationship between excessive online gaming and feelings of loneliness. Using correlational research, 140 Filipino university students, aged 18-30 from the different universities located in Metro Manila participated in this study. The Gaming Addiction Scale for Adolescents was used to measure excessive gaming. Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines Loneliness Scale was used to gauge the level of loneliness experienced by the respondents. The respondents were then classified into engaged, problematic, and addicted gamers. Analysis shows a moderate, positive correlation between excessive gaming and feelings of loneliness. Males reported higher scores in the scale for excessive gaming, while females recorded higher scores in the scale for loneliness. Additionally, there were significant differences among the three types of online gamers where those considered "addicted" obtained the highest scores in terms of excessive gaming. With most respondents citing “escapism” as their reason for playing, this study hopes to develop a more stringent system in identifying individuals suffering from pathological gaming, and more importantly, develop interventions or strategies to help them, as loneliness is a factor in the development of mental health conditions.