Longing for the game: Identifying as a “gamer” and addiction-related nostalgia undermine recovery from gaming disorder

Background and aims: Recovery from gaming disorder can be difficult because it requires reducing or abstaining from an activity that once fulfilled important psychological needs such as social connection, achievement, and escape. This research examined whether nostalgia for the perceived benefits of gaming-termed addiction-related nostalgia-undermines recovery and whether such nostalgia arises from continued identification as a gamer. Methods: Two pre-registered cross-sectional studies were conducted with individuals in recovery from gaming disorder (Study 1a = 299; Study 1b = 578; total N = 877). Participants completed measures of gamer identification, addiction-related nostalgia, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and intention to remain in recovery. Path analyses tested hypothesised indirect effects using bias-corrected bootstrapping. Results: Gamer identification was positively associated with addiction-related nostalgia, which in turn predicted greater loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Addiction-related nostalgia indirectly undermined intention to remain in recovery through heightened loneliness and depression. Participants who engaged in reduced gaming reported greater nostalgia, depression, anxiety, and lower recovery motivation than abstinent participants. Conclusions: Addiction-related nostalgia represents a significant psychological barrier to recovery from gaming disorder. Continued identification as a gamer may sustain longing for gaming's benefits, exacerbate psychological difficulties, and weaken recovery motivation. Assessing and addressing nostalgia may strengthen recovery-focused interventions.