Designing and Testing the Structural Model of Online Games Addiction Based on Brain-Behavioral Systems: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Fusion and Experiential Avoidance

Abstract

Introduction: Online games addiction is a growing concern which the prevalence is estimated at 1.2 to 8.5 percent among teenagers and young adults. Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the mediating role of cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance in the relationship between brain-behavioral systems and addiction to online games. Method: In terms of method, the research was among descriptive-correlation researches of structural equations type. The statistical population included all the students of the first year of high school in the education and training region of Hormozgan Bastak in the academic year of 2021-2022 which 350 people were selected as a sample using the multi-stage cluster random sampling method. They responded to the questionnaires of behavioral inhibition/activation systems (1994), cognitive fusion (2014), acceptance and action - second edition (2011) and online games addiction(2002). Structural modeling was used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that the behavioral activation system and the behavioral inhibition system have a significant direct relationship with the online games addiction with coefficient values of 0.46 and 0.42, respectively (P < 0.001). Also, the behavioral activation system and the behavioral inhibition system are significantly related to online game addiction indirectly with the mediation of experiential avoidance with a coefficient value of 0.17 and 0.15, respectively and the behavioral inhibition system with the mediation of cognitive fusion with a coefficient value of 0.21,. (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In order to reduce online games addiction, experts should evaluate personality traits on the one hand in order to identify the sensitivity of behavioral inhibition/activator systems, and on the other hand, seek to reduce cognitive biases along with cognitive and retrospective challenges

Keywords

• online games addiction
• experiential avoidance
• behavioral brain systems