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The Social Processes of Excessive Online Gaming Homophily: Peer Selection or Influence?
Cuijing Li1, Quanlei Yu1, Jiamiao Zhang1
1Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
|June 12, 2024
Summary
Adolescents often choose friends with similar online gaming habits, and these friendships reinforce excessive gaming. Prevention programs should address peer environments and social influence skills to combat problematic gaming behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Media Studies
Background:
- Adolescent friendships can influence online gaming behavior.
- Homophily in online gaming use may increase risks for excessive engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the bidirectional relationship between adolescents' online gaming severity and their friends' behavior.
- To investigate peer selection and peer influence effects on online gaming use homophily.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with three waves of online surveys over 4.5 months.
- Analysis of data from 3079 university students (33.6% female, mean age 19.16).
- Application of Random-intercepts, Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) analyses.
Main Results:
- Both peer selection and peer influence significantly promote online gaming use homophily.
- Adolescents tend to form friendships with peers who have similar gaming behaviors.
- Reinforcement of online gaming behaviors was observed within these relationships.
- Potential time lags in these social processes were noted among girls.
Conclusions:
- Peer selection and influence create and maintain similar online gaming behaviors within adolescent friendships.
- Effective interventions for excessive online gaming should consider peer environment dynamics.
- Future research should explore potential gender-specific time lags in these effects.
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