NEGATIVE MOOD REGULATION EXPECTANCIES AND PROBLEMATIC INTERNET GAMING

Video games are a popular form of entertainment that can be used in problematic ways that resemble addictive behavior. Internet gaming disorder (IGD) develops when people have poor coping skills and play video games to alleviate their negative moods. Negative mood regulation expectancies (NMRE) represent how confident someone is that they can manage their negative mood. Strong NMRE predict healthy mood regulation. The current study examined the relationship between NMRE and IGD. The participants were 102 American adults recruited from gaming forums and websites for those who play online video games. The participants completed measures of NMRE, IGD, positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), and motivation to play video games. Correlational analyses demonstrated that NMRE positively correlated with PA and negatively correlated with NA and IGD. Simultaneous multiple regressions showed NMRE and unhealthy motivation were both significant independent predictors of PA and NA. Unhealthy motivation and NA were significant independent predictors of IGD. The interaction between NMRE and unhealthy motivation did not predict IGD. There was no moderation effect, but results indicated that NA mediated between NMRE and IGD. Overall, results indicated that there is a strong relationship between mood and IGD, suggesting using video games to alleviate negative mood or escape personal distress contributes to developing IGD. Applying social learning theory to IGD may explain why people play video games with the intent of alleviating a negative mood, because they have had previous experiences ion which gaming elevated mood, but their mood actually ends up worsening when playing in a negative emotional state. Strengthening NMRE could be useful in treating people with IGD, because inability to manage negative moods greatly contributes to IGD, and higher NMRE can alleviate negative moods without necessitating engaging in problematic gaming.