Summary: A study finds that achievement motivation strongly predicts online video game addiction, with escapism and psychological ownership also playing key roles.
Source: University at Buffalo
As online gaming has surged—accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and more time spent at home—some players develop addictive habits driven by the desire for achievement and escape, according to new research from the University at Buffalo School of Management.
Published in Decision Support Systems, the study explores how different gaming motivations shape a player’s psychological ownership of virtual worlds and how that sense of ownership relates to online game addiction (OGA). The researchers found that gamers often feel a stronger sense of belonging to virtual environments than typical technology users, and that this attachment can become problematic when paired with excessive play.
“Gaming has long been a way for people to relax and step away from daily routines,” says Lawrence Sanders, PhD, professor of management science and systems at the UB School of Management. “But the rapid growth of online games has coincided with rising addiction rates, which in serious cases can lead people to neglect family, work and even their health.”
The research team surveyed 436 undergraduate business students to measure how achievement motivation, social motivation and escapism influence psychological ownership of virtual gaming environments—and how those factors relate to OGA.
Key findings show that achievement motivation and escapism are positively linked to psychological ownership of virtual worlds, while social motivation does not have a significant effect. In other words, players driven by goals, rewards and escaping real-life stressors are more likely to develop a strong sense of ownership over their in-game environment; players motivated primarily by social interaction tend to use other channels—like friends, social networks or in-person activities—to fulfill social needs.
Notably, the study identified an inverted-U relationship between psychological ownership and online game addiction: both very low and very high levels of psychological ownership are associated with lower addiction risk, while moderate levels can correspond with higher addiction. The authors suggest this pattern indicates that a certain middle range of investment in the virtual world may be most likely to fuel compulsive play.
The research also distinguishes between primary and secondary control strategies. Individuals with a strong tendency toward primary control—the drive to change their environment or other people to gain control—are more susceptible to OGA. Conversely, those who rely more on secondary control—adjusting themselves to fit circumstances—are less inclined toward addictive play.
Based on these results, the authors recommend practical strategies to reduce the risk of online game addiction. Families, communities and universities should expand opportunities for achievement and healthy escapism through outdoor activities, competitive sports and offline games such as cosplay events or tabletop gaming. Such alternatives allow players to satisfy goal-driven impulses and stress relief without exclusive reliance on virtual worlds.
For individual players, the researchers advise choosing either relatively easy or very challenging game difficulty settings rather than intermediate levels. Because achievement motivation strongly predicts addiction risk, easier modes reduce competitive pressure while very hard modes are difficult to master, both of which can lower the chance of becoming hooked on continual progress and rewards.
Parents, teachers and employers should monitor individuals who display high levels of primary control or who prioritize achievement and escape through gaming. Early awareness and supportive interventions—encouraging balanced routines, offline accomplishments and social activities—can help prevent excessive gaming from escalating into harmful addiction.
The study’s authors include lead author Xunyi Wang, PhD, assistant professor of information systems at Baylor University; Mohamed Abdelhamid, PhD, assistant professor of information systems at California State University Long Beach; and Lawrence Sanders, PhD, of the UB School of Management. Wang and Abdelhamid are alumni of UB’s doctoral program.
About this video game addiction research news
Source: University at Buffalo
Contact: Press Office – University at Buffalo
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Original Research: Closed access.
“Exploring the effects of psychological ownership, gaming motivations, and primary/secondary control on online game addiction” by Lawrence Sanders et al. Decision Support Systems
Abstract
Exploring the effects of psychological ownership, gaming motivations, and primary/secondary control on online game addiction
Online gaming has become a mainstream form of entertainment worldwide. Yet, the rapid expansion of online games has brought a parallel rise in problematic and addictive play for some individuals.
This study examines how psychological ownership, gaming motivations (achievement, social, escapism), and personal control strategies (primary and secondary control) influence online game addiction (OGA). Using 436 valid questionnaire responses and partial least squares structural equation modeling, the authors tested a model linking these variables.
Results indicate that achievement and escapism are positively associated with psychological ownership of virtual gaming environments, while social motivation is not a significant predictor. The analysis reveals an inverted-U relationship between psychological ownership and OGA, suggesting that moderate levels of ownership are most strongly associated with addictive tendencies.
Additionally, higher levels of primary control are linked to greater OGA risk, whereas secondary control appears protective against addiction.
The study offers practical recommendations: promote outdoor competitions and offline gaming events to satisfy achievement and escapism needs, encourage players who seek relaxation to select easy or very difficult game modes to reduce addiction risk, and monitor individuals with strong primary control tendencies for potential vulnerability to OGA.
The research contributes to theoretical understanding by integrating gaming motivation, psychological ownership, and control strategies in the study of OGA, and by highlighting the potential negative outcomes tied to psychological ownership of virtual environments.