Psychological Profiles of Gamers: Healthy Gaming and Gaming Disorder Risks

Background: The widespread appeal of video games across generations reflects their role as a leisure activity, searching for relaxation, challenge, and social interaction. Nonetheless, a minority of players engage in excessive gaming, leading to adverse outcomes, the most severe being gaming disorder. This study is focused on examining the psychological aspects of gaming, namely gaming motivation, and emotional regulation, by profiling video game players across a spectrum from healthy engagement to the risk of gaming disorder. 

Methods: A cross-sectional approach was employed, in an international sample of 5222 gamers, adolescents and adults (16-69 years), including all game genres. The profiles were identified through Latent Profile Analysis. 

Results and Conclusions: Four video game players’s profiles were identified: avoidant, enganged, relational and dysregulated. The relational and dysregulated profiles exhibited increased risks of gaming disorder, primarily due to challenges in emotional regulation and motivations linked to socialization, status, gaming skills, and other factors. The identification of these distinct profiles underscores the importance of understanding the spectrum of gaming use. It highlights the integral role of profiles in comprehending both healthy and problematic gaming behaviors. This insight can help the development of targeted prevention strategies and interventions, specifically tailored considering the characteristics of each profile. Such strategies could significantly contribute to promoting healthy gaming habits and reduce the risks associated with gaming disorder.