Personal Growth Initiative, Internet Gaming Disorder, and Depression among Graduate Students at University.

Abstract

Personal Growth Initiatives (PGI) are crucial to human existence, and anything that negatively affects them may result in disabilities. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between personal growth initiative, internet gaming disorder and depression among graduate students at university. This study used a mixed method particularly explanatory sequential design. Correlation study design was used to investigate the relationships between personal growth initiative, internet gaming disorder and depression. A narrative study approach was used to examine the experiences of people with internet gaming disorder. Standardized tools and a social demographic questionnaire were used to collect quantitative data from 166 male and female participants. A total of 10 participants were included in the qualitative data collection. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. SPSS version 21 and thematic analysis were used. Results showed that the prevalence of personal growth initiative was 80.1%, for internet gaming disorder was 11.4% and that of depression was 9%. There was a significant association between personal growth initiative and depression (X2(1, n=166) =4.191, p< 0.05). There was no significant association between personal growth initiative and internet gaming disorder (X2(1, n=166) =0.019, p> 0.05). There was no significant association between internet gaming disorder and depression (X2(1, n=166) =0.019, p> 0.05). The onset of gaming was during childhood and while transitioning from high school to university. The study revealed the triggering factors of internet gaming, the effects and the strategies participants use to stop/reduce internet gaming. The government and the concerned stake holders should provide educational and intervention programs in universities to address depression, internet gaming disorder and the perceived benefits of internet gaming among graduate students.