Proteus effect avatar profiles: Associations with disordered gaming and activity levels

Gaming avatars can influence users’ attitudes and behaviors and manifest as the proteus effect. The present study examined proteus effect profiles among 571 gamers and their associations with disordered gaming and physical activity. Latent class analysis identified three profiles: non-influenced gam...

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Main Authors: Kaiden Hein, Tyrone L. Burleigh, Angela Gorman, Maria Prokofieva, Vasilis Stavropoulos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Addictive Behaviors Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853224000397
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author Kaiden Hein
Tyrone L. Burleigh
Angela Gorman
Maria Prokofieva
Vasilis Stavropoulos
author_facet Kaiden Hein
Tyrone L. Burleigh
Angela Gorman
Maria Prokofieva
Vasilis Stavropoulos
author_sort Kaiden Hein
collection DOAJ
description Gaming avatars can influence users’ attitudes and behaviors and manifest as the proteus effect. The present study examined proteus effect profiles among 571 gamers and their associations with disordered gaming and physical activity. Latent class analysis identified three profiles: non-influenced gamers, emotion-perception influenced gamers (highest proteus effect), and emotion-behavior influenced gamers (moderate proteus effect). The high proteus effect group exhibited significantly higher gaming disorder symptoms at baseline and 6 months compared to other profiles. Proteus effect profiles did not significantly differ in physical activity levels. However, higher disordered gaming and proteus effect predicted lower activity over time. The strong proteus effect group’s avatar immersion may increase gaming disorder risks. Minimal avatar influence for the non-influenced gamers appears protective. While proteus effect profiles do not directly relate to activity, amplified disordered gaming can reduce active lifestyles. Overall, findings demonstrate how avatars differentially affect gamers’ experiences and functioning through proteus-induced changes.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2352-8532
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Addictive Behaviors Reports
spelling doaj-art-2a691f747d014f6c89b2f36f0f1a8fef2024-12-14T06:31:33ZengElsevierAddictive Behaviors Reports2352-85322024-12-0120100562Proteus effect avatar profiles: Associations with disordered gaming and activity levelsKaiden Hein0Tyrone L. Burleigh1Angela Gorman2Maria Prokofieva3Vasilis Stavropoulos4School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, AustraliaSchool of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia; Corresponding author.Catholic Care Victoria, Victoria, AustraliaInstitute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, AustraliaSchool of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, AustraliaGaming avatars can influence users’ attitudes and behaviors and manifest as the proteus effect. The present study examined proteus effect profiles among 571 gamers and their associations with disordered gaming and physical activity. Latent class analysis identified three profiles: non-influenced gamers, emotion-perception influenced gamers (highest proteus effect), and emotion-behavior influenced gamers (moderate proteus effect). The high proteus effect group exhibited significantly higher gaming disorder symptoms at baseline and 6 months compared to other profiles. Proteus effect profiles did not significantly differ in physical activity levels. However, higher disordered gaming and proteus effect predicted lower activity over time. The strong proteus effect group’s avatar immersion may increase gaming disorder risks. Minimal avatar influence for the non-influenced gamers appears protective. While proteus effect profiles do not directly relate to activity, amplified disordered gaming can reduce active lifestyles. Overall, findings demonstrate how avatars differentially affect gamers’ experiences and functioning through proteus-induced changes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853224000397Internet Gaming DisorderAvatarProteus EffectPhysical ActivityDigital
spellingShingle Kaiden Hein
Tyrone L. Burleigh
Angela Gorman
Maria Prokofieva
Vasilis Stavropoulos
Proteus effect avatar profiles: Associations with disordered gaming and activity levels
Addictive Behaviors Reports
Internet Gaming Disorder
Avatar
Proteus Effect
Physical Activity
Digital
title Proteus effect avatar profiles: Associations with disordered gaming and activity levels
title_full Proteus effect avatar profiles: Associations with disordered gaming and activity levels
title_fullStr Proteus effect avatar profiles: Associations with disordered gaming and activity levels
title_full_unstemmed Proteus effect avatar profiles: Associations with disordered gaming and activity levels
title_short Proteus effect avatar profiles: Associations with disordered gaming and activity levels
title_sort proteus effect avatar profiles associations with disordered gaming and activity levels
topic Internet Gaming Disorder
Avatar
Proteus Effect
Physical Activity
Digital
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853224000397
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AT mariaprokofieva proteuseffectavatarprofilesassociationswithdisorderedgamingandactivitylevels
AT vasilisstavropoulos proteuseffectavatarprofilesassociationswithdisorderedgamingandactivitylevels