Pubg Game Addiction, Cognitive Reappraisal and Aggressive Behaviour in Students

Students worldwide are increasingly engaging with violent video games, and studies have shown a strong bond between violent video gaming and aggressive behavior. However, cognitive reappraisal as a moderator has not been extensively explored. This study focused to examine the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal (CR) in the association between PUBG addiction (PA) and aggressive behaviour (AB). The sample consisted of 210 college and university students, aged 18 to 25 (M = 20.73, SD = 2.33), consisting 113 men and 97 women, who had been playing the game for at least one year. The study employed three measures: the Gaming Addiction Scale for Adolescents (short version) to assess PA, the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire to evaluate AB, and the Emotional Regulation subscale to measure CR. The results revealed that PA was positively and significantly associated with AB. However, PA negatively but not significantly relate with CR. However, CR was significantly negatively associated with AB, and moderation analysis showed that CR significantly moderated the association between PA and AB. Gender-based differences depicted those men scored significantly higher than women on PA, and also scored more on CR and AB, although these differences were not statistically significant. The study concludes with recommendations, limitations, and implications for student welfare.

Gaming addiction is defined by compulsive and excessive involvement with digital and video games, resulting in clinical distress to daily functioning and mental health problems (Griffiths, 2008; Billieux et al., 2019; Lekshmi, 2024; Anjum et al., 2024). This condition is commonly referred to by various terms such as "Internet Gaming Disorder," "pathological video gaming," "problematic gaming," and "internet gaming addiction" (Griffiths, 2015; Kuss, 2013). The emergence of online video games began in the 1990s, and their popularity has surged due to their widespread accessibility (Wolf, 2015; Wiley, 2016; Dyer-Witheford & De Peuter, 2009). This expansion has led many students to dedicate excessive hours to gaming, which has a detrimental effect on their daily obligations (Lemmens et al., 2011; Mozelius et al., 2016; Ko & Yen, 2024). In 2017 a notable example of a game known for its addictive qualities is PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), which was launched (Ashok, 2023). Inspired by the Japanese movie Battle Royale, PUBG places players in a competitive setting where they parachute onto an island, collect weapons, and try to survive while avoiding elimination (van Riel, 2019; Zhou et al., 2024; Ali et al., n.d). As the game advances, the playable area shrinks, heightening the hurdles and obstacles (Kausar et al., 2024; Gałka & Strzelecki, 2021). Players who remain until the end and eliminate all their adversaries experience a strong sense of achievement and excitement (Al-Mansour, 2019; Kim, 2021; Aguilar, 2019). PUBG’s attraction lies in its easy learning curve, rewarding progression systems, and the thrill of ongoing advancement, making it highly addictive (Razhkou, 2024; Wu, 2020; D’Souza et al., 2019).

Prior studies have shown a significant association between violent video games and aggression in young adults (Addo et al., 2021; Adachi & Willoughby, 2011; Anderson & Bushman, 2001), with recent research linking PUBG addiction to aggression in this group (Kausar et al., 2024). Aggression involves causing harm or discomfort to a person, property, animal, or object, and includes physical, verbal, and emotional components (Buss & Perry, 1992; Fitzmaurice, 1952; Bushman & Huesmann, 2010; Marcovitz, 1982). It can be impulsive, triggered by provocation and loss of control, or premeditated, planned and conscious (Stanford et al., 2003; Huesmann, 2013; Fraser & Rushen, 1987; Didden et al., 2016). Cognitive reappraisal involves changing one's perspective on a situation, encouraging a more objective view rather than becoming immersed in anger or negative emotions (Clark, 2022; McRae et al., 2012; Buhle et al., 2014; Troy et al., 2013; Denny & Ochsner, 2014; Wolgast et al., 2011). Studies have shown that cognitive reappraisal is an effective strategy for managing anger, hostility, and aggressive behavior (Zhan et al., 2017; Takebe et al., 2017; Roberton et al., 2012; Maftei et al., 2021; Beames et al., 2019). A study conducted on two groups indicates that the experimental group, diagnosed with Internet Gaming Disorder, displayed ineffective emotional regulation, leading to higher levels of hostility. In contrast, the control group, which was not diagnosed with the disorder, demonstrated effective emotional regulation and did not exhibit hostility. This finding suggests that Internet Gaming Disorder is inversely related to cognitive reappraisal, which may contribute to increased aggression (Yen et al., 2018). The literature review depicted limited research on cognitive reappraisal as a moderating factor between PUBG addiction and aggressive behavior in students. This study aims to explore the connection between PUBG addiction and aggression, with cognitive reappraisal as a moderator, emphasizing its potential in reducing aggression among compulsive PUBG players.

Hypotheses

The research hypotheses are as follows:

H1: PUBG addiction is likely to positively related with aggressive behaviour and negatively related with cognitive reappraisal among students.

H2: Cognitive reappraisal is likely to moderate the association between PUBG addiction and aggressive behavior in students.

H3: There is likely to be a gender difference in PUBG addiction, cognitive reappraisal, and aggressive behavior among students.

Research Design and Sample

The current study adopted a correlational research design to investigate the associations between PUBG addiction, cognitive reappraisal, and aggressive behavior in students. The sample comprised 210 students from schools, colleges, and universities.

Sampling Strategy

Data were collected using purposive sampling, targeting individuals who met the study's inclusion criteria.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

The study included college and university students aged 18 to 25 who have played PUBG in the past year. Participants who have not played PUBG during this period were excluded. Both male and female students were part of the sample.

Ethics 

The study followed APA 7 ethical guidelines throughout its entirety. Authorization for data collection was obtained from the appropriate department, and approval was secured from the creators of the instruments to use specific scales before the data collection process commenced. Participants provided informed consent, which highlighted that their participation was voluntary and they could withdraw at any juncture without facing any negative consequences. No physical or emotional harm was caused to the participants.

Assessment Measures

Gaming Addiction Scale for Adolescents (GASA) (Lemmens et al., 2009)

The Gaming Addiction Scale for Adolescents (GASA) is a 25-item, with responses ranging from "never" (1) to "very often" (5). The scale has an internal consistency of 0.94. For this study, the shorter 7-item version of the GASA was used to measure PUBG addiction.

Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) (Gross & John, 2003)

The ERQ is a 10-item scale designed to assess emotional regulation, with responses ranging from 1 to 7. Items 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, and 10 assess cognitive reappraisal, which is the focus of this study. The reliability of the reappraisal subscale ranges from 0.76 to 0.90.

Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) (Buss & Perry, 1992)

The BPAQ is a 29-item scale designed to assess aggressive behavior, with responses ranging from "extremely uncharacteristic" (1) to "extremely characteristic" (5). It demonstrates high internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.91. This scale was utilized in the current study to measure aggressive behavior.

Data Analysis

The study used SPSS version 22 for data analysis. Pearson's product-moment correlation was applied to examine the association between the study variables. Hayes Process 4.1, Model 1, was employed to investigate cognitive reappraisal as a moderator in the association between PUBG addiction and aggressive behavior. Additionally, a t-test was conducted to assess gender differences in the variables among the participants.

Table 1: Socio-demographic Characteristics of Participants (N = 210)

Note. f=Frequency, %= Percentage, M=Mean, SD= Standard Deviation 

The table above shows that 113 participants (54%) are male, while 97 (46%) are female. The mean age of the participants is 20.75 years (SD = 2.33). In terms of education, the majority of participants have completed intermediate education (107, or 51%), followed by those with bachelor's degrees (68, or 32%), master's degrees (24, or 10%), and a smaller group with matriculation (13, or 6%).

Table 2: Correlation Among Study Variables (N = 210)

Note. *p less than.05. **p less than.01

The table shows the associations between the study variables. PUBG addiction is significantly positively associated with higher aggressive behavior but has an insignificant negative association with cognitive reappraisal. Additionally, cognitive reappraisal is significantly negatively associated with aggressive behavior.

Table 3: Regression Coefficients for PUBG Addiction, Cognitive reappraisal on Aggressive behavior (N=210).

Note. *p less than .05. **p less than.01, PG= PUBG Addiction, CR=Cognotive Reappaisal

Hayes Process Model 4.1 was used to examine the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal in the link between PUBG addiction (independent variable) and aggressive behavior (dependent variable). The table above shows a direct effect of PUBG addiction on aggressive behavior (β = .65***, SE = .18, p less than.001). Additionally, cognitive reappraisal significantly increased aggressive behavior (β = .55*, SE = .25, p less than .05). The interaction between PUBG addiction and cognitive reappraisal significantly reduced aggressive behavior (β = -2.16**, SE = 1.08, p less than .01), suggesting that cognitive reappraisal diminished the impact of PUBG addiction on aggressive behavior.

Independent Sample T-Test

Table 4: Men Differences of Gender among Study Variables (N=210)

Note.  M= mean, SD= Standard Deviation, PG= PUBG addiction, CR= Cognitive Reappraisal. **p less than.01. ***p less than.001, 

The table above shows a significant gender difference in PUBG addiction, with men scoring notably higher than women. However, no significant gender differences were found in cognitive reappraisal and aggressive behavior. Nevertheless, men had higher average scores in both aggressive behavior and cognitive reappraisal compared to women.

A substantial body of literature has highlighted the link between violent video games and aggression. However, research on the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal in aggressive behavior among college and university students aged 18 to 25 is limited. This study seeks to explore the impact of PUBG addiction on aggressive behavior, with cognitive reappraisal acting as a moderator within this age group. The goal is to provide meaningful implications for students, address gaps in previous research, and encourage further exploration of these variables.

The first proposition suggests a significant positive association between PUBG addiction and aggressive behavior, and a negative relationship between PUBG addiction and cognitive reappraisal among students. Our findings support existing literature, indicating that PUBG addiction is strongly associated with increased aggressive behavior and a decrease in cognitive reappraisal, which has even been linked to extreme outcomes like suicide (Mamun et al., 2022). Previous studies have also shown that violent video games provoke aggressive behavior (Griffiths, 1999), and recent research has found a connection between social media addiction and heightened aggression in young adults (Shahid et al., 2024). Additionally, research on PUBG addiction in young adults (Kausar et al., 2024) and on other games like Ludo Star (Bashir et al., 2024) also reveals a significant association between game addiction and aggression among students aged 18 to 25. The link between PUBG addiction and aggression can be explained by the game’s genre and features, which contribute to aggressive behavior, a phenomenon that aligns with Bandura's social learning theory (Lachlan et al., 2005; Kordyaka et al., 2020; Bandura et al., 1961). Supporting this, a study by Spann et al. (2019) found that cognitive reappraisal was effective in reducing the frustration intensity among college students who played games. Furthermore, a study by Yen et al. (2018) concluded that ineffective emotional regulation in gamers, particularly those diagnosed with Internet Gaming Disorder, leads to hostility. This emphasizes the importance of cognitive reappraisal as a positive emotional regulation strategy. Thus, the reason for aggression when playing PUBG is likely due to the absence of cognitive reappraisal, especially in cases of compulsive or pathological gaming.

The second postulate proposed that cognitive reappraisal would moderate the effect of PUBG addiction on aggressive behavior in students. Our results confirm that cognitive reappraisal significantly moderates this relationship. This finding is consistent with research that shows participants with Internet Gaming Disorder exhibit higher levels of hostility and reduced cognitive reappraisal compared to those without the disorder (Lin et al., 2020). Similarly, a study on Lebanese adolescents found a significant link between smartphone addiction, poor cognitive functioning, and increased aggressive behavior (Fekih-Romdhane, 2022). Our findings, together with existing literature, suggest that cognitive reappraisal can act as an effective buffer between violent games like PUBG and aggressive behavior in students. The third proposition explored differences between men and women in the study variables. Analysis of mean differences revealed that men scored significantly greater than women in PUBG addiction. Although no substantial differences were observed between men and women in aggressive behavior and cognitive reappraisal, men still had elevated scores on these variables. This finding aligns with Shahid et al. (2024), who reported that social media addiction and aggressive behavior are more prevalent among young adult men than women. Furthermore, our results are consistent with Kwon et al. (2013), who found that women generally exhibit higher levels of expressive suppression and lower cognitive reappraisal compared to men. Additional studies by Bashir et al. (2024) similarly indicated that men tend to score higher on gaming addiction and aggression than women. The findings may also be influenced by cultural and societal factors, as Pakistan is a conservative country where men hold more power over women and perceive them as inferior. This dynamic could contribute to greater access to technology for men and heightened aggression, while men may also view themselves as emotionally vulnerable and fragile.

Limitations and Recommendations

The first drawback of the study is the relatively small sample size of 210 students, which may not fully represent the larger population of PUBG players. Future studies should use a larger sample for more generalizable results. Another limitation is the cross-sectional design, which may be less effective than a longitudinal design for examining changes in study variables over time. A longitudinal approach could provide more insights. Additionally, the use of purposive sampling may not have been the best method, and stratified sampling might have offered a better representation of different cohorts. Finally, the imbalance in educational categories limits the analysis of mean differences, so future studies should ensure a more balanced demographic sample for a more comprehensive analysis.

Implications

The study successfully demonstrated that cognitive reappraisal significantly moderates the association between PUBG addiction and aggressive behavior among Pakistani students. This finding is essential for developing intervention strategies aimed at improving emotional regulation and cognitive abilities, ultimately reducing aggression. To address the impact of PUBG addiction, mental health professionals should organize seminars, workshops, and webinars to raise awareness and guide individuals in managing these issues. The goal should be to help addicts return to their pre-addiction state and encourage seeking professional help if addiction symptoms emerge. Additionally, students should be taught cognitive therapy techniques, such as muscle tension release and the ABC model, to enhance emotional well-being and academic performance. These findings are valuable not only for students facing PUBG addiction but also for scholars in the field, contributing to the literature and providing a foundation for future research.

Data sharing and availability statement

Upon request, the authors will provide access to the data.

Acknowledgments

The researchers extend their appreciation to the participants of the study.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have not revealed any conflicts of interest.

Funding Information

This study was conducted without receiving any funding.

Authors Contribution 

Muhammad Sajjad Shahid (Corresponding Author): Planned the study, collected data and wrote original draft. 

Faiqa Yaseen: Supervision, reviewing and editing.