Impact of Internet Gaming Disorder on Self-Appraisal Among University Students: Moderating Role of Gender

The objective of the current study was to assess the impact of internet gaming disorder on self-appraisal. Moreover, role of gender as a moderator on the relationship between internet gaming disorder and self-appraisal among university students was also explored. A sample of 300 students was collected through purposive sampling technique, from different universities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The participant’s age range was 18-28 years. Self-report measures i.e., Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-short form (Pontes & Griffiths, 2015) and Core Self Evaluation Scale (Judge, Erez, Bono, & Thoresen, 2003) were administered. Results yielded that internet gaming disorder negatively predicted self-appraisal among university students. Moreover, gender worked as a significant moderator on the relationship between internet gaming disorder and self-appraisal. The independent sample t-test showed that males reported a higher level of internet gaming disorder as compared to females. Males showed less self-appraisal as compared to females. This study will help to identify the effects of internet gaming disorder on self-appraisal among university students. Furthermore, intervention plans can also be developed for students by decreasing their gaming activity and increasing their self-appraisal and bringing them back to their normal life.