RELATIONSHIP OF ONLINE GAMING WITH SELF CONTROL, PROBLEM SOLVING AND SOCIAL ZAPPING IN YOUNG ADULT GAMERS

Abstract

The aim of study is to investigate the impact of online gaming behavior on self-control, problem solving, and social zapping among adult gamers. A quantitative study with correlational research design; participants N=325 (270 males and 55 females) aged 18-30, was conducted where data was gathered through Google forms. The assessment tools used for this research were Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (Pontes & Griffith, 2015), The Self Control Scale (Tangney et al., 2004), Independent- Interdependent Problem-Solving Scale (Rubin, Watt & Ramelli, 2012) and Social Zapping Scale (Muller, et. al., 2021). The results of statistical analyses indicated that online gaming has negatively significant relation with self-control (r=-.224**, p<0.01) and positively significant relation with social zapping (r=.165**, p<0.01). But no significant relation was observed between online gaming and problem solving (p>0.05). Furthermore, self-control found to be the key factor as a mediator between online gaming and social zapping (b=-.29, p< .001). Online gaming shows negative correlation with self-control and positive correlation with social zapping which means with the increase in online gaming there will be increase in social zapping as well but decrease is self-control and vice versa. No significant relationship was found between online gaming and problem solving. Besides, age plays a huge role in social zapping among gamers. Late adult gamers are comparatively less social zappers as compared to young adult gamers.