Motivations to play specifically predict excessive involvement in massively multiplayer online role-playing games: evidence from an online survey.

Background: Several studies have linked massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) with possible problematic usage or internet addiction.

Objective: The main goal of the present study was to assess links between motivations to play in MMORPGs and addictive involvement in such types of games.

Methods: A total of 696 gamers responded to an online survey.

Conclusions: Five distinct motivations to play were identified in gamers: achievement, socializing, immersion, relaxing and escaping. Multiple regression analysis revealed that addictive MMORPG use patterns are predicted by achievement, escapism and socializing motives. Gender was also a significant predictor of problematic involvement in MMORPGs. Moreover, addictive MMORPG use positively correlated with the weekly time devoted to playing MMORPGs.