Profiling gamers: The role of mental health, attachment and social factors in gaming behaviors.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study examines the association of mental health, social and relational contexts, and gaming-related characteristics on the psychological profiles of video game players based on emotional regulation and motivations for gaming.

METHODS

A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted on an international sample of 5.255 gamers aged 16 to 69 (M = 25.6 years, SD = 6.46). Participants included 49.87 % men (M = 26.4, SD = 7.06), 43.24 % women (M = 25.1, SD = 5.77), and 9.29 % non-binary individuals (M = 23.3, SD = 5.24) from 112 countries. Mental health, attachment styles, social interactions, and gaming behaviors were analyzed into four profiles: avoidant, engaged, relational, and dysregulated.

RESULTS

The avoidant profile, linked to older gamers, exhibited low distress, secure attachment, and offline social preferences, reflecting healthier habits. The engaged profile, the largest group, showed secure attachment and active integration of gaming into social contexts. The relational profile presented insecure attachment and emotional regulation difficulties. The dysregulated profile, associated with younger gamers, was characterized by high distress, emotional dysregulation, substance use, and a preference for online interactions.

CONCLUSIONS

The profiles dysregulated and relational are associated with insecure attachment and mental health difficulties, whereas the profiles engaged and avoidant are associated with secure attachment and low levels of psychological distress. These findings underscore the complex interplay of psychological, social, and gaming-related factors associated with gaming profiles, offering insights for further study on harm prevention and promoting non-problematic gaming behaviors.