From Satisfaction to Disorder: Psychological Needs in Gaming Behavior

Internet Gaming Disorder is defined as a condition to be studied in Section 3 of DSM- 5-TR. The high growth rate in gaming that was recorded after the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need to clarify the determinants of gaming behaviour, especially concerning problematic gaming and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). The objective of the research is: (1) to determine the association between gaming behaviours and the satisfaction and frustration of the basic psychological needs; (2) to establish whether satisfaction of the needs and frustration of the needs are predictors of IGD among the hostel dwellers in Chandigarh, India. The data used in this investigation were those of 120 students, who were staying in different hostels of colleges and universities. The findings showed that need frustration and IGD had a positive relationship, but the relationship between need satisfaction and IGD was a negative correlation. The multiple-regression equation explained around 17.3% percent of the variance in IGD, and need satisfaction and need frustration had a combined effect as important predictors. Results of ANOVA gave no significant difference in IGD levels between those in hostels and students in their home, whether there is family presence or not