June 19, 2012, doi: 10.1177/0020764012445861
Int J Soc Psychiatry September 2013 vol. 59 no. 6 570-577
- 1Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, Hanoi, Vietnam
- 2Department of Community and Global Health, School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan
- Junko Yasuoka, 7 – 3 – 1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Email: [email protected]
Abstract
Aims: To explore the association between MMORPG addiction and mental health status, and between self-control ability and mental health status among young male MMORPG players in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 10 computer game rooms were randomly selected out of 77 in five communes in Hanoi. From these game rooms, 350 MMORPG players were purposively recruited as a study group, of whom 344 completed the questionnaire. In the same five communes, 344 non-players were selected as a control group. An online game addiction scale, a self-control scale and the Vietnamese SRQ-20 were used to measure the degree of MMORPG addiction, self-control ability and level of mental disorders.
Results: MMORPG players had significantly higher mental disorders scale scores than non-players (p < .001). The strongest positive correlation was detected between MMORPG addiction scale scores and mental disorders scale scores (r = 0.730, p < .001). Self-control scale scores were negatively associated with mental disorders scale scores (r = -0.345, p < .001). The average amount of money spent on games per month, MMORPG addiction scale score and self-control scale score were considered the best predictors of a higher mental disorders scale score.
Conclusion: Young, male MMORPG players with higher addiction scores were more likely to have higher mental disorders scale scores, and such mental status was negatively associated with the level of self-control in Hanoi, Vietnam. Closer attention should be paid to prevent mental disorders among MMORPG players.
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