Gratification vs. compensation: longitudinal evidence for the shifting motivations behind adolescent gaming disorder
- 1Doctoral School in the Social Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- 2Institute of Applied Psychology, Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
Abstract
IntroductionDrawing on the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model, this longitudinal study examined the prospective associations between gaming motives and Gaming Disorder (GD) among adolescents. Specifically, we investigated whether gratification-oriented motives (Fantasy, Identity) predict subsequent GD symptoms and whether compensation-oriented motives (Coping, Escape, Introjected Regulation) emerge as consequences of GD.MethodsData were collected from 120 secondary-school gamers at two time points separated by a three-month interval. Cross-lagged panel models were estimated separately for each gaming motive–GD pair to examine the directionality of associations over time.ResultsThe findings supported the gratification hypothesis, as higher baseline Fantasy and Identity motives predicted increased GD symptoms at follow-up. A bidirectional association emerged between Fantasy and GD, whereas higher initial GD symptoms predicted a subsequent decline in Identity motives. The compensation hypothesis received partial support: GD prospectively predicted increases in Coping and Introjected Regulation, while no significant cross-lagged associations were observed for Escape.DiscussionThese findings suggest that gratification-oriented motives may contribute to the early development of GD, whereas increasing GD symptoms may reinforce specific compensation-oriented motives. The results highlight distinct, motive-specific dynamics in adolescent gaming and underscore the importance of distinguishing between gratification and compensation processes. From a practical perspective, assessing Fantasy and Identity motives as potential risk indicators and addressing emerging Coping and Introjected Regulation motives may inform more targeted school-based prevention and intervention strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{starzec2026gratification,
title = {{Gratification vs. compensation: longitudinal evidence for the shifting motivations behind adolescent gaming disorder}},
author = {Sylwia Starzec and Aleksandra Zajas and Natalia Michałkiewicz and Patrycja Kiszka and Lidia Kowalska and Paweł Strojny},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1938938},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1938938},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Gratification vs. compensation: longitudinal evidence for the shifting motivations behind adolescent gaming disorder
AU - Sylwia Starzec
AU - Aleksandra Zajas
AU - Natalia Michałkiewicz
AU - Patrycja Kiszka
AU - Lidia Kowalska
AU - Paweł Strojny
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1938938
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1938938
AB - IntroductionDrawing on the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model, this longitudinal study examined the prospective associations between gaming motives and Gaming Disorder (GD) among adolescents. Specifically, we investigated whether gratification-oriented motives (Fantasy, Identity) predict subsequent GD symptoms and whether compensation-oriented motives (Coping, Escape, Introjected Regulation) emerge as consequences of GD.MethodsData were collected from 120 secondary-school gamers at two time points separated by a three-month interval. Cross-lagged panel models were estimated separately for each gaming motive–GD pair to examine the directionality of associations over time.ResultsThe findings supported the gratification hypothesis, as higher baseline Fantasy and Identity motives predicted increased GD symptoms at follow-up. A bidirectional association emerged between Fantasy and GD, whereas higher initial GD symptoms predicted a subsequent decline in Identity motives. The compensation hypothesis received partial support: GD prospectively predicted increases in Coping and Introjected Regulation, while no significant cross-lagged associations were observed for Escape.DiscussionThese findings suggest that gratification-oriented motives may contribute to the early development of GD, whereas increasing GD symptoms may reinforce specific compensation-oriented motives. The results highlight distinct, motive-specific dynamics in adolescent gaming and underscore the importance of distinguishing between gratification and compensation processes. From a practical perspective, assessing Fantasy and Identity motives as potential risk indicators and addressing emerging Coping and Introjected Regulation motives may inform more targeted school-based prevention and intervention strategies.
SN - 1664-0640
ER -