Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 5-16-2025

Abstract

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) lacks clear diagnostic thresholds, with self-reported addiction often serving as the primary indicator of problematic gaming. However, little research has explored factors influencing these self-perceptions. This study examined whether moral incongruence—defined as the interaction between gaming frequency and moral disapproval of gaming—predicts self-reported gaming addiction. Using secondary data from a U.S. census-matched YouGov sample (n = 2,813), moderation analyses found that moral incongruence significantly strengthened the association between gaming frequency and self-reported addiction when using the validated Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10), but not when using the unvalidated NIDA-ASSIST gaming item. Robustness checks using censored and zero-beta inflated regressions confirmed these findings. Results highlight the importance of using validated measures in gaming research and suggest that perceptions of gaming addiction may partly reflect value-based moral conflict rather than behavioral dysregulation alone. Future research should further explore how moral beliefs shape gaming distress.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Joshua Grubbs

Second Committee Member

Margo Hurlocker

Third Committee Member

Jeremy Hogeveen

Language

English

Keywords

Internet Gaming Disorder, Moral Incongruence

Document Type

Thesis

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