Influence of Mobile Online Battle Arena (MOBA) Addiction on Psychological Discomfort

Abstract

An American Psychological Association study indicates that engaging in video games can improve a variety of cognitive abilities, including problem-solving, memory, spatial navigation, and reasoning. However, significant studies on the detrimental impacts of gaming, such as addiction, depression, and aggressiveness, have been found in several studies. Nevertheless, there is a lack of exploration of the effect of specific game genre addiction on the psychological well-being of students, not only in the Philippines but also around the world. The researchers used a quantitative, predictive design for this study. A total of 350 respondents participated in the study. In terms of MOBA usage, the average engagement level among college students was x̄ = 3.04, SD = 1.25. The study findings suggest that college students, on average, reported mild levels of psychological discomfort (x̄ = 2.27, SD = 0.742). Despite their involvement in MOBA activities, there appears to be a baseline level of psychological discomfort among participants. The researchers concluded that there is a positive significant correlation between MOBA addiction and psychological discomfort. Regression analysis, conducted with a significance threshold of 0.05, revealed that only the “Withdrawal” subscale of MOBA Addiction exhibited a predictive relationship (p = 0.03) Despite the significance of these findings, it is essential for future studies to address potential biases in participants’ responses. Additionally, it is recommended that future researchers conduct qualitative inquiries to provide a comprehensive understanding of the variables involved.