Presenting a Structural Model of Online Gaming Addiction based on Social Rejection and Cognitive Ability with the Mediating Role of Emotional Avoidance

The pathological use of computer games has become one of the most important concerns of mental health professionals in recent years.

This study aimed to propose a structural model for online gaming addiction, based on social rejection and cognitive ability, with emotional avoidance serving a mediating role.

In this descriptive correlational study, the research population comprised all second-grade students from secondary schools in Ardabil, Iran, during the 2022-2023 academic year. A sample of 226 students was selected using a convenience sampling method. Data was gathered using various questionnaires, including the Online Game Addiction Questionnaire by Wang and Chang (2002), the Cognitive Abilities Questionnaire by Nejati et al. (2012), the Social Peer Rejection Measure by Lev-Wiesel et al. (2013), and Kennedy’s Emotional Avoidance Strategy Inventory (2015). The collected data was then analyzed using structural equation modeling in SPSS Version 20 and AMOS Version 22.

The results revealed significant direct path coefficients for social rejection (β=0.18, P=0.004) and cognitive ability to emotional avoidance (β=0.62, P<0.001), as well as social rejection (β=0.50, P<0.001), cognitive ability (β=0.25, P=0.009), and emotional avoidance to online game addiction (β=0.39, P<0.001). The results also indicated that emotional avoidance played a mediating role in this model (P<0.005).

The findings showed that social rejection and cognitive ability affected addiction to online games through the mediation of emotional avoidance. Therefore, it is recommended to hold workshops with the aim of reducing and preventing addiction to online games.