What determines video game use? : the impact of users’ habits, addictive tendencies, and intentions to play

The present study explores the role of intentions, habits, and addictive tendencies in people’s video game use. The approach sets out from the assumption that both habits and addictive tendencies determine higher amounts of video game use. However, the present study examines if this impact of both habits and addictive tendencies on video game use is mediated by users’ intentions to play. Furthermore, the impact of habits and addictive tendencies on video game use may also be lower the less users intend to play (indicating a moderating role of intention). To test these assumptions, data was collected in a survey with two waves (N = 351). Determinants were measured before the outcome, i.e. subsequent video game use. Results of mediation analyses reveal a positive impact of both habits and addictive tendencies on video game use that is partly carried on by users’ intentions. Furthermore, moderation analyses suggest that the impact of habits - but not of addictive tendencies - on video game use decreases the less users intend to play. Taken together, these findings suggest that users´ video game habits, addictive tendencies, and intentions jointly determine video game use.Accepted versio