Some characteristics of playing computer games

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati spolne razlike u učestalosti igranja internetskih i računalnih igara na populaciji djece i adolescenata, ispitati povezanost broja prijatelja i čestine igranja, te utvrditi u kojoj mjeri spol, čestina igranja, samopoštovanje i motivi za igru bijeg od problema i opuštanje predviđaju problematično igranje. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 238 ispitanika osnovnih i srednjih škola u Republici Hrvatskoj u dobi od 11 do 19 godina. Rezultati su pokazali da će mladići u odnosu na svoje vršnjakinje češće igrati računalne igre. Pronađena je i statistički značajna pozitivna povezanost između broja prijatelja i čestine igranja računalnih igara, drugim riječima, adolescenti koji više igraju izjavljuju o većem broju prijatelja u stvarnom životu, što znači da su društveniji. Rezultati hijerarhijske regresijske analize potvrđuju da su čestina igranja, muški spol, nisko samopoštovanje i motiv opuštanje dobri prediktori problematičnog igranja računalnih igara. Motiv bijeg od problema nije se pokazao značajnim prediktorom. Provedeno istraživanje otvorilo je dodatna pitanja na temu problematičnog igranja na računalima, kojima se treba baviti u budućim istraživanjima.The aim of present study was to examine gender differences in frequency of playing computer games among children and adolescents, to examine relation among number of friends and frequent gaming, and finally, explore to what extent gender, self-esteem, frequency of playing computer games, and motives relaxation and avoiding real-life problems explain problematic playing. The research included 238 students from elementary and secondary school aged 11 to 19. The results have shown that young male players will play computer games more often than their female peers. Also, a significant positive correlation among number of friends and frequency of playing was found meaning that those who play computer games more often report they have plenty of friends in real life, so they are more sociable. The results of hierarchical regression analyses suggest that frequency of playing, male gender, low self-esteem, and relaxation as a motive for play are good predictors of problematic computer game playing. However, avoiding real-life problems, as a motive for play, is not proven to be a significant predictor of problematic playing. The conducted research opened up many issues which should be investigated in future research