The Exploration Novelty Seeking Factors Associated with Online Gaming Addiction among Adolescents in Malaysia

Online gaming has become a common activity among adolescents in Malaysia. Hence, this study explored the novelty-seeking factors associated with online gaming addiction among adolescents in Malaysia. This study involved qualitative research in which 12 adolescents that were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through interviews using several semi-structured questions after adolescents underwent a screening process using the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-8) and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGDSF-9). The interview transcript was analyzed using the thematic analysis method. The novelty-seeking factors that influence adolescents to become addicted to play online games have indicated three themes with eleven sub-themes, which are (a) experience-seeking factors, including enjoyable features, peer influence, skill development, making new friends, stress relief, role models, and generating side income, (b) thrill and adventurous seeking factors, including reward systems and challenging game features, and (c) boredom factors, including boredom and fulfilling leisure time. This research study can be a guideline to identify the factors that can influence adolescents to play Internet games and provide insight for early treatment that can be taken to prevent adolescents from becoming seriously addicted to games. Besides, this study also provides a depth understanding from the informant's perspective about the three significant novelty-seeking factors that may be associated with their gaming behavior.