INTERNET ADDICTION AMONG COMPUTER GAME PARTICIPANTS

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of Internet addiction among computer game users as one of the most relevant forms of behavioral addiction in the digital age. The study focuses on exploring the psychological and social factors that contribute to the development of dependency on virtual gaming environments, as well as on designing effective strategies for its prevention and psychological correction. The main objective of the research is to identify the structural characteristics of Internet-addictive behavior, examine the relationship between the type of gaming activity and the level of addiction, and develop practical recommendations for psychological assistance to individuals at high risk. The research methodology combines both quantitative and qualitative approaches and is based on an empirical survey of a sample of young people who actively engage in computer gaming. The diagnostic toolkit includes questionnaires, K. Young’s Internet Addiction Test, S. Chen’s Gaming Engagement Scale, Eysenck’s method for assessing character accentuations, Diener’s Subjective Well-Being Scale, and Tucker’s Social Stress Scale. This integrated approach enables the identification of correlations between emotional state, personality traits, and the degree of involvement in online gaming activities. The results of the study reveal that individuals with pronounced character accentuations – particularly anxious-suspicious, emotionally labile, and exalted types – are most vulnerable to Internet addiction. Additional predictors include a low level of subjective life satisfaction, high emotional tension, and a tendency to avoid interpersonal interaction in real-life settings. It was also established that the type of gaming activity (e.g., engagement in multiplayer role-playing games or shooters) significantly affects both the intensity and nature of addictive behavior, underscoring the need for a differentiated approach in psychocorrectional interventions. The findings have substantial practical implications for the field of applied psychology, especially in the context of youth counseling, school and university-level prevention programs, and the development of digital hygiene strategies.