| Online game flow is an extremely enjoyable experience generated by game activity. It has been proved that flow can not only promote the enjoyment and loyalty to the games, but also make the players become addicted. However, very few researches has addressed how the flow, as a core variable in the positive psychology, leads to the addiction of online game. According to the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use (PIU) put forward by Davis, specific maladaptive cognitions (i.e. distorted thoughts and thought processes) are the proximal sufficient cause of the set of symptoms of PIU. And the exposure to Internet is a catalyst for the developmental process of PIU. Many studies indicated that cognitive distortion and behavioral repetition are concerned with online game addiction, In light of this, this research investigated the mediating effects of cognitive distortion and behavioral repetition in between flow and online game addiction from the perspective of individual cognitive-behavioral factors.To investigate the relationship among online game flow, cognitive distortion, behavioral repetition and online game addiction,672 valid responses were collected by using Short (9-Item) Online Game Flow Scales, Questionnaire, Online Game Cognitive Distortions Scale, Scale of Online Game Use and Online Game Addiction Scale from several universities in Wuhan. The results are as follows:(1) College students, especially boys, had preferences for client online game, and had higher level of flow. Game players with the achievement orientation, utilitarian orientation or social orientation can get higher flow experience during the online game.(2) Both online game flow and online game addiction showed significant gender differences, boys were likely to spend proportionately more time on online games and achieved higher flow experience than girls. Meantime, the online game addiction in boys was more serious than girls.(3) Online game flow, cognitive distortion(rumination, all or none thinking, online comfort and short-term thinking) and online game addiction correlated significantly with each other. Online game flow, rumination, all or none thinking, online comfort and short-term thinking could positively predict online game addiction significantly(4) Flow not only had a direct positively effect on online game addiction, but also affected it indirectly through the mediating role of cognitive distortion. Rumination, all or none thinking and short-term thinking work as mediating effects in between online game flow and addiction.(5) The relationship between online game flow and online game addition was mediated by cognitive distortion and behavioral repetition. Specially speaking, flow can affect online game addiction indirectly through three indirect paths:through the mediating role of rumination; through the mediating role of behavioral repetition; through the chain mediating role of both rumination and behavioral repetition.Although online game flow is a pleasant experience, it can also make players have cognitive distortion and play online games excessively, thus lead them addicted to the games. This study provided a better understanding of the role online game flow plays in online game addiction, and offering suggestions and theoretical support for us to prevent the college students from online game addiction and intervene in it with a clear aim. |
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