Shyness, Positive and Negative Affect, Life Satisfaction, and Video Games

Post date: Nov 15, 2012 4:12:21 PM

Christopher Koch & Mary Kate Koch

Abstract. Although the relationship between shyness and social media has been a target of research, the literature regarding shyness and video gaming is underdeveloped. In the present study,127 (39 male and 88 female, Mage = 19.70) college students completed the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scales (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988), the Shyness Scale (Cheek & Melichor, 1985), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diender, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985), along with a demographic questionnaire. Respondents who missed a meal due to playing video games were more shy and expressed greater negative affect than those who had not. Respondents who missed a class or had been late for an appointment due to playing videogames also had greater negative affect. These results suggest that negative affect, not shyness, is associated with disruptive gaming behaviors.

Poster presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Computers in Psychology