【結論與建議】
本研究以社會認知觀點來探討線上遊戲成癮之成因，結果支持線上遊戲正向預期在同儕影響力與線上遊戲成癮間扮演中介角色，且在高父母支持程度下，線上遊戲正向預期在同儕影響力與線上遊戲成癮之關係間的中介效果不存在；顯示高父母支持可能為高線上遊戲正向預期之國中生發展為線上遊戲成癮的保護因子。而本研究樣本皆為國中生，需後續研究進一步擴大樣本族群方能將研究結果類推至其他族群；另本研究未區分線上遊戲類型，未來研究可進一步探討在不同線上遊戲類型下的同儕影響力是否會提升不同類型的線上遊戲正向預期。此外，建議未來可進一步檢驗提升學生對線上遊戲成癮後果之認知、降低其線上遊戲正向預期，以及提升父母教養技巧對於青少年線上遊戲成癮防治之成效。
[Background]
Internet gaming addiction is an emerging behavior problem in adolescents worldwide. It is imperative to understand the psychosocial factors and underlying mechanisms of internet gaming addiction among adolescents. One study indicated that internet gaming use positive outcome expectancy mediated the relationship between peer influence and internet gaming addiction by using the cross-sectional study design. However, the causal pathways among peer influence, internet gaming use positive outcome expectancy, and internet gaming addiction were still unclear. Moreover, parental support was found to moderate the influence of tension reduction alcohol outcome expectancies on alcohol use. Thus, we proposed the effect of internet gaming use positive outcome expectancy on internet gaming addiction appeared to be weaker in students with higher parental support. Consequently, the present study was aimed to examine the moderating role of parental support on the effect of peer influence on internet gaming addiction mediating through internet gaming use positive outcome expectancy in a longitudinal design.
[Methods]
This study was conducted by a three-wave longitudinal study designed in 657 adolescents in grades 7 and 8. All participants were invited to join this study after gaining parents and student informed consent. They completed Internet Gaming Addiction Scale, Peer Influence for IGA, Positive Outcome Expectancy of Internet Gaming Questionnaire, and Social Support Scale. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 20.0, and the PROCESS was used to test our hypothesized model.
[Results]
The results showed that peer influence (T1) had an indirect impact on internet gaming addiction (T3) through the mediation of internet gaming use positive outcome expectancy (T2), and parental support (T2) play a moderator in the effect of internet gaming use positive outcome expectancy (T2) on internet gaming addiction (T3). Further analyses indicated that only students with higher parental support were protected from the detrimental impact of high peer influence and high internet gaming expectancy on internet gaming addiction, compared with students with lower parental support.
[Conclusions]
The present study provides a greater understanding for the mechanism of internet gaming addiction, and suggests that parental support as an important protective factor against internet gaming addiction in students with high peer influence or internet gaming use positive outcome expectancy. Further study may examine whether prevention programs on reducing internet gaming use positive outcome expectancy, and improving parenting skills will help to prevent internet gaming addiction in adolescents.
