The Role of Avoidance Coping and Escape Motives in Problematic Online Gaming: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Over the past two decades, research into Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has markedly increased due to worldwide spread of online videogames. The reasons and motivations for playing greatly contribute to its popularity. Escapism and avoidance coping strategies have been studied extensively and conceptualized as motives to play. A growing research base has demonstrated a strong association between these motives to play and negative gaming outcomes. Consequently, the aim of the present systematic review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of avoidance coping and escape motives in problematic online gaming. A systematic literature search was carried out using academic databases and a total of 26 empirical studies met the inclusion criteria. The results show that escapism and avoidance coping represent both a predictor of IGD and play a mediating role between many psychological factors (e.g., self-esteem, loneliness, self-concept, anxiety) and problematic online gaming. However, the review also highlights the paucity of longitudinal studies that hinder the determination of the causal direction of these associations. Despite this limitation, the evidence has important implication for developing more effective prevention programs and clinical interventions.

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“…Parental attitudes (authoritarian, protective, and democratic), family relations, and individual's socializing state are assumed to have effects on internet, social media, and smartphone usage level of young adults. If an individual has a stronger desire to spend time online, this may create problems for the individual/s (Melodia, Canale & Griffiths, 2020). For this reason, when smartphone addiction is examined, addictive mobile phone use is evaluated as an impulse control disorder similar to alcohol that does not contain an intoxicating substance and pathologic gambling (Park & Lee, 2011;Bian & Leung, 2015).…”

Research Directions in the Study of Gaming-Related Escapism: a Commentary to Melodia, Canale, and Griffiths (2020)

“…However, the escapism construct has often been poorly conceptualized and operationalized in assessment instruments. In their systematic review, Melodia et al (2020) proposed that conceptualizing escapism as an avoidant coping strategy could provide a sound basis for further study of problematic gaming. In this commentary, we critically examine some terminological and conceptual issues in relation to escapism to guide future research.…”

“…To this aim, the authors presented the framework of gaming motives proposed by Demetrovics et al (2011), which distinguishes the motivations of "escape" (defined as gaming to avoid life difficulties) and "coping" (defined as gaming for mood boosting or channeling of emotions). Relying on this model, Melodia et al (2020) defined escapism as the process of leaving reality and avoidant coping as the game's capability to help the person deal with "real" problems by favoring management of unpleasant emotional states. Subsequently, Melodia et al (2020) proposed that "clarifying the nature of escapism as an avoidant coping strategy should be seen as the basis for further research on this topic" (p. 5).…”

“…Relying on this model, Melodia et al (2020) defined escapism as the process of leaving reality and avoidant coping as the game's capability to help the person deal with "real" problems by favoring management of unpleasant emotional states. Subsequently, Melodia et al (2020) proposed that "clarifying the nature of escapism as an avoidant coping strategy should be seen as the basis for further research on this topic" (p. 5). Although Melodia et al (2020) recognized that the interchangeable use of the terms "escapism" and "avoidant coping" had complicated the interpretation of the findings of several past studies, the authors provided a general definition of coping to address avoidant coping and used the terms "escapism" and "escape" interchangeably as if they effectively referred to the same phenomenon.…”

“…Subsequently, Melodia et al (2020) proposed that "clarifying the nature of escapism as an avoidant coping strategy should be seen as the basis for further research on this topic" (p. 5). Although Melodia et al (2020) recognized that the interchangeable use of the terms "escapism" and "avoidant coping" had complicated the interpretation of the findings of several past studies, the authors provided a general definition of coping to address avoidant coping and used the terms "escapism" and "escape" interchangeably as if they effectively referred to the same phenomenon. In accordance with Demetrovics et al's (2011) distinction between escape and coping, we contend that escape rather than escapism may be more appropriately considered an avoidant strategy (Table 1; Hayes et al, 1996).…”