The influence of online multiplayer games on social capital and interdependent well-being in Japan

Abstract

This study examines the effects of online game behaviors and players' characteristics on social capital and sense of belonging generated in multiplayer online games, and then on interdependent well-being. Hypotheses testing was performed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling based on an online survey conducted in 2021 (n = 383). Communication with close persons, acquaintances, and strangers all impact bridging social capital and bonding social capital, respectively, with the effect of communication with strangers being the strongest. Both extroversion and materialism positively impact bridging social capital and bonding social capital, while the impact of demographic variables is not found. Moreover, communication with close persons, strangers, bridging social capital, bonding social capital, and materialism positively impact belonging. Finally, belonging positively impacts interdependent well-being, and bridging social capital positively impacts interdependent well-being through belonging. This study shows the importance of interaction with strangers, and those players could develop broader and deeper social relationships in online games. Moreover, this study is the first to examine players' communication with players across different relationship types to clarify the social effects of in-game behaviors on interdependent well-being.