An exploration of emerging psychological concerns surrounding youth involvement in e-sports: a literature review and study of a Portuguese sample population
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2019-12-11
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A presente dissertação compõe-se por dois artigos. O primeiro é uma revisão bibliográfica da história e evolução dos e-sports (jogo profissional de videojogos) e as preocupações existentes e atualmente em debate relativamente aos potenciais efeitos prejudiciais (nomeadamente, o jogo patológico de videojogos) que os e-sports poderão promover nos jogadores e espectadores. O segundo artigo explora até que ponto o jogo patológico de videojogos poderá existir em adultos emergentes (entre os 18-25 anos de idade) portugueses que se autoidentifiquem como gamers, apresentando os resultados dum questionário administrado através da internet a uma amostra não-aleatória e auto-selecionada com as características suprarreferidas. Além de perguntas de cariz sociodemográfico, o questionário inclui três instrumentos psicológicos de medição de patologia. São eles o Internet Addiction Test (IAT), a DSM-IV-MR-J e a Escala Toulousiana de Coping reduzida (ETC-reduzida). O objetivo destes instrumentos é determinar se os autoidentificados gamers ou fãs do videojogo competitivo demonstram maiores níveis de adição à Internet, problemas com o jogo a dinheiro e capacidades de coping reduzidas, sugerindo uma possível patologia relacionada com jogar videojogos. Os nossos resultados indicaram que, à medida que o número total de horas de jogo aumentou, a nossa amostra demostrou maiores taxas de adição à Internet (IA), piores valores no tocante a mecanismos de coping de Controlo e menor satisfação com os seus relacionamentos íntimos. Estes resultados sugerem que o jogo excessivo de videojogos poderá ter impactos psicológicos e sociais negativos.
This dissertation is divided into two articles. The first is a review of the literature regarding the history and evolution of e-sports (professional video gaming) and the existing concerns being debated regarding the potential detrimental psychological effects (namely, pathological game play) that e-sports may promote in players and spectators. The second article explores to what extent pathological play may be present among Portuguese emerging adult (between 18-25 years old), self-identified “gamers”, presenting the findings of a questionnaire administered online to a non-randomized, self-selected sample with these characteristics. In addition to questions of a sociodemographic nature, the questionnaire includes three psychological instruments to measure pathology–the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the DSM-IV-MR-J and a reduced version of the Toulouse Coping Scale (TCS-r)–with the objective of determining whether self-identified “gamers” or fans of competitive video gaming demonstrate higher levels of Internet addiction, gambling problems and reduced coping skills, thus suggesting possible gaming-related pathology. We found that, as total gameplay hours per day increased, our sample demonstrated higher rates of Internet addiction (IA), worsened scores in the Control coping mechanism and increased dissatisfaction with intimate relationships. These results suggest that excessive gaming may have negative psychological and social impacts that merit further study.
This dissertation is divided into two articles. The first is a review of the literature regarding the history and evolution of e-sports (professional video gaming) and the existing concerns being debated regarding the potential detrimental psychological effects (namely, pathological game play) that e-sports may promote in players and spectators. The second article explores to what extent pathological play may be present among Portuguese emerging adult (between 18-25 years old), self-identified “gamers”, presenting the findings of a questionnaire administered online to a non-randomized, self-selected sample with these characteristics. In addition to questions of a sociodemographic nature, the questionnaire includes three psychological instruments to measure pathology–the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the DSM-IV-MR-J and a reduced version of the Toulouse Coping Scale (TCS-r)–with the objective of determining whether self-identified “gamers” or fans of competitive video gaming demonstrate higher levels of Internet addiction, gambling problems and reduced coping skills, thus suggesting possible gaming-related pathology. We found that, as total gameplay hours per day increased, our sample demonstrated higher rates of Internet addiction (IA), worsened scores in the Control coping mechanism and increased dissatisfaction with intimate relationships. These results suggest that excessive gaming may have negative psychological and social impacts that merit further study.
Descrição
Dissertation presented for awarding of the Degree of Master in Clinical Psychology by the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Palavras-chave
adição à Internet , e-sports