Developing a model of prosocial behaviors based on basic psychological needs with the mediating role of online game addiction

The current research aimed to test the proposed model of prosocial behaviors based on basic needs with the mediating role of online game addiction. The research method was correlation and path analysis type. The statistical population included the students of Bu Ali-Sina University in Hamadan in the academic year of 2021-2022, and a sample of 388 people was selected using the cluster random method. The research tools included the basic psychological needs of LaGuardia et al. (2000), the prosocial behaviors of Caprara et al. (2005), and addiction to online game addiction of Khazal et al. (2007) scales. To analyze the data, the path analysis method was used using SPSS version 22 and LISREL version 8.8 software. The results showed that the proposed research model had a good fit with the data. The results showed that the direct effect of basic psychological needs on game addiction was negative and significant and on prosocial behaviors was positive and significant (p<0.01). The effect of game addiction on prosocial behaviors was negative and significant (p<0.01). Also, the results showed that game addiction had a significant mediating role in the relationship between basic psychological needs and prosocial behavior (p<0.01). According to the results of the research, basic needs can play a role in reducing addiction to online games, and reducing the amount of reliance on games is effective in improving prosocial behaviors.