The Mediating Role of Coping-Strategies in the Relation between Personality Traits and Symptoms of Gaming Disorder

Abstract Objective During the development of a gaming disorder (GD), affected individuals experience reduced control over their gaming use and the behavior exceedingly gains greater priority in the individuals’ lives. This implies continuation of their gaming behavior even when experiencing negative consequences. A common motivation for gaming is the relief of everyday stress, while a decrease of other coping strategies over time can lead to maladaptive behaviors. Based on theoretical assumptions, we hypothesized, that employed coping strategies mediate the relationship between specific personality traits, such as conscientiousness, neuroticism and self-directedness, and the symptom severity of GD. Methods In this study, participants ( N = 360) underwent a structured diagnostic interview to examine symptom severity according to the proposed DSM-5 criteria for (Internet) GD. Through self-report questionnaires personality traits of the five-factor model (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness) as well as self-directedness and coping strategies (problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, avoidant coping) were assessed. Data were analyzed using mediation models via the PROCESS macro to test indirect effects. Results Results suggest a negative direct association between self-directedness and symptoms of GD (β = -.399, p < .001). Additionally, avoidant coping mediated the relationship of neuroticism (ab = .028, 95%-CI[.003, .058]) and self-directedness (ab = -.050, 95%-CI[-.099, -.005]) with GD. Conclusion Our results highlight the importance of avoidant coping strategies for the development of GD. These findings suggest that interventions targeting avoidant coping patterns may help mitigate GD risk among individuals with high neuroticism.