From Pixels to Isolation: The Role of Game Type in the Connection between Video Game Addiction and Loneliness

Aim: This research sought to explore whether the type of video game—interactive or non-interactive—acts as a moderator in the link between video game addiction and loneliness among university students. The main purpose of the present study was to determine whether the game type meaningfully alters the strength of this relationship.Method: The sample consisted of 729 university students aged between 17 and 30 years (mean: 21.76±2.06). Participants completed the Video Game Addiction Scale and the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and were categorized according to their preferred game type (interactive vs. non-interactive). A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing relational screening and causal-comparative designs. Moderation analysis was conducted using PROCESS macro Model 1 (Hayes, 2013) in SPSS, with 2000 bootstrap samples, to assess the role of game type in the relationship between video game addiction and loneliness.Results: The results indicated a notable positive correlation between video game addiction and loneliness. Furthermore, this relationship was observed to be more pronounced among individuals who primarily engaged in non-interactive games. The analysis also demonstrated that game type served as a significant moderator in the association between gaming addiction and loneliness.Conclusion: The results indicate that game type should be taken into account when examining the psychological and social consequences of gaming. Individuals who predominantly engage in non-interactive games may experience heightened levels of loneliness in association with problematic gaming behaviors. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how digital game characteristics can affect players’ emotional and social well-being.