Are gaming skills set in stone? Exploring the associations between mindset, passion, and gaming disorder. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zsila, Ágnes; Aruguete, Mara S.; Shabahang, Reza; Orosz, Gábor
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 202(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Addiction -- Gaming disorder -- Mindset -- Passion -- Video games; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111996
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: Empirical evidence suggests that mindset beliefs (fixed vs. growth) and passion (harmonious vs. obsessive) can influence how individuals engage in activities. However, still little is known about the role of mindset beliefs in the healthy and problematic involvement in recreational video gaming. Based on the theoretical foundations of the dualistic model of passion, this study investigates the possible mediating role of passion between mindset and gaming disorder. Hungarian gamers ( N = 2097; 88.5 % male, M age = 26.2 years, SD = 6.8) participated in an online survey. Path analysis was used to explore the relationships between mindset, passion, and gaming disorder. According to the resulting path model, fixed mindset beliefs were associated with obsessive but not harmonious passion, which in turn were associated with more symptoms of gaming disorder. The model explained a considerable proportion of variance of gaming disorder (57 %). These findings suggest that mindset interventions in the field of recreational gaming may be useful in efforts to reduce the risk of gaming disorder. Highlights: The Gaming Mindset Scale was introduced and shown to be valid and reliable. Fixed gaming mindset was associated with obsessive passion. Obsessive passion predicted gaming disorder. Harmonious passion was unrelated to mindset and gaming disorder. Mindset and passion explained 57 % of the variance of gaming disorder.