The Association Between Loneliness, Social Anxiety, and Gaming Addiction in Male University Students

Gaming addiction is notably associated with increased levels of social anxiety and loneliness among adolescents. The current study intends to explore the relationship between online gaming addiction, social anxiety, and loneliness among male university students. Non-probability purposive sampling was employed to select male participants between the ages of 20 to 30 years. Data was collected using the Gaming Addiction Scale, the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and the Social Anxiety Scale (SAS), along with a demographic sheet. SPSS 23 was employed for the data analysis. Correlation analysis revealed that there is a positive correlation between addiction, loneliness, social anxiety, and gaming addiction. The multiple regression analysis indicated that social anxiety and loneliness are positive predictors of gaming addiction. An independent sample t-test showed a significantly higher level of interaction anxiety and evaluation anxiety among adolescents experiencing loneliness and being involved in addictive gaming behavior. The results of this study highlight the role of social anxiety and loneliness in the development of gaming addiction in adolescents, offering insight into the intricate interplay between these variables. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for additional research to better understand behavioral patterns in gaming activities, strengthening our ability to address the problem effectively.