Providing a Model for Predicting Online Game Addiction based on HEXACO Personality Traits and the Parent-Child Relationship Mediated by Impulsiveness

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to examine the model of predicting online game addiction based on HEXACO personality traits, and the parent-child relationship mediated by impulsiveness. Methods: The present research was descriptive and correlational and its statistical population consisted of 125110 female students in the second grade of high school in Tehran in the academic year of 2020-2021. The sample size of 400 was selected based on Klein's view (2016) using the non-random convenience sampling method (online method). The samples responded to the online game addiction inventory by Wong and Chang (2002), the HEXACO personality trait inventory by De Vries (2013), the Parent-Child Relationship Quality Inventory by Fine et al. (1983), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) by Patton et al. (1995). The proposed model was analyzed by structural equation modeling using SPSS and AMOS24. Results: The coefficients of direct paths of honesty-humility (β=-0.560, P=0.001), excitability (β=0.205, P=0.001), extraversion (β=-0.550, P=0.001), agreeableness (β=-6.26, P=0.001), and openness to experience (β=-0.717, P=0.001) on addiction to online games were not significant. The effect of conscientiousness (β=-0.155, P=0.490) was not significant on online game addiction. The coefficient of direct paths of mother-child relationship (β=-0.318, P=0.001) was significant on online game addiction. The effect of the father-child relationship (β=0.256, P=0.291) was not significant on online game addiction. The coefficient of direct impulsiveness path (β=0.571, P=0.028) was significant on online game addiction. The indirect effects of HEXACO personality traits and parent-child relationship mediated by impulsiveness were significant on online game addiction (P=0.05). Conclusion: The modified structural model of the research had a good fit with the research data and it was an important step in identifying determinants of online game addiction in students.