Savolainen Iina, Vuorinen Ilkka, Sirola Anu, Oksanen Atte
Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland.
Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland.
Compr Psychiatry. 2022 Aug;117:152331. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152331. Epub 2022 Jun 12.
The uncertain and stressful global situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to cause anxiety and impact people's mental health. Simultaneously, social distancing policies have isolated people from their normal social interactions. These societal changes have inevitably influenced gambling and gaming practices, and many people may have turned to betting or gaming as a means of social exchange. This study examined the influence of COVID-19 anxiety on increased mental health problems and their relationship to gambling and gaming problems. The mediating role of social motives for gambling and gaming was also investigated.
Finnish adults (N = 1530; M = 46.67; 50.33% male) were recruited from a volunteer participant panel to participate in a survey study. COVID-19 anxiety was assessed using a scale adapted from the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Mental health problems were evaluated with the five-item Mental Health Inventory. Gambling problems were measured using the Problem Gambling Severity Index, and gaming problems were measured with the Internet Gaming Disorder Test. Social motives for gaming were evaluated using a single-item measure. Analyses used generalised structural equation modelling.
COVID-19 anxiety predicted increased mental health problems, which were associated with heightened gambling and gaming problems. Social motives for gambling and gaming were a significant mediator, suggesting that gambling and gaming problems are emphasized markedly among those who are socially motivated by and involved in such games.
Mental health problems experienced during the pandemic and the social properties of games might accentuate gambling and gaming problems.
由新冠疫情引发的不确定且充满压力的全球局势有可能导致焦虑并影响人们的心理健康。同时，社交距离政策使人们与正常的社交互动隔离开来。这些社会变化不可避免地影响了赌博和游戏行为，许多人可能已转向投注或游戏作为一种社交交流方式。本研究考察了新冠焦虑对心理健康问题增加的影响及其与赌博和游戏问题的关系。还调查了赌博和游戏的社会动机的中介作用。
从一个志愿者参与者小组中招募芬兰成年人（N = 1530；M = 46.67；50.33%为男性）参与一项调查研究。使用从斯皮尔伯格状态-特质焦虑量表改编而来的量表评估新冠焦虑。用五项心理健康量表评估心理健康问题。用问题赌博严重程度指数测量赌博问题，用互联网游戏障碍测试测量游戏问题。使用单项测量法评估游戏的社会动机。分析采用广义结构方程模型。
新冠焦虑预示着心理健康问题增加，而心理健康问题增加与赌博和游戏问题加剧相关。赌博和游戏的社会动机是一个显著的中介因素，表明在因社交动机而参与此类游戏的人群中，赌博和游戏问题明显更为突出。
疫情期间经历的心理健康问题以及游戏的社交属性可能会加剧赌博和游戏问题。
