Mediators and moderators of self-esteem’s risk to gaming disorder

Aim: This study aimed to understand the mediating and moderating effects of self-esteem’s relationship with gaming disorder (GD). Methods: Participants (N = 1,712) were recruited from online gaming forums. A battery of measures including GD, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, escapism, and playing time were completed. Results: Escapism, depression, and playing time have a significant mediating effect on self-esteem’s relationship with GD. Escapism and depression explained most of the mediated effect, with playing time showing a much smaller effect. Anxiety was not a significant mediator. Unexpectedly, high self-esteem does not appear to buffer against the effects escapism and playing time have on GD. This contradicts clinical literature that promotes high self-esteem as a resilience factor. Conclusions: Mediating effects of self-esteem’s relationship with GD were identified in this study. Moderators other than self-esteem might be more prudent to investigate in GD research.