Understanding motivational factors of problematic video gaming in the USMC and US Navy

Prepared for: Manpower and Reserve Affairs (M&RA), Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations/21st Century Sailor Office (OPNAV/N17). This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). NRP Project ID: NPS-21-M035-A.The overarching aim of the study was to assess attributes and aspects of video gaming in the United States Navy (USN) and Marine Corps (USMC). Data were collected from two USN surface ships (in port) and three commands of the USMC. Sailors completed a cross-sectional survey and a 10-day activity log. Marines completed the survey and participated in semi-structured focus groups. Response rates to the surveys ranged from ~7.5% for Marines to ~22.5% for Sailors. Respondents consisted of 86 Sailors and 927 Marines (age MD=24 years, 92.4% males, 84.2% enlisted). From the 1,013 ADSMs, 91.6% reported playing video games (VGs) (age MD=23 years, 94.3% males, 86.1% enlisted). The information provided in the Marine focus groups along with the survey data of both Marines and Sailors suggest that video gaming is highly prevalent in the military. Many ADSMs began playing video games at 7 or 8 years of age. In general, self-identified gamers used problem-focused and emotion-focused coping styles more frequently than dysfunctional coping styles. Recreation was the most frequently reported motivational dimension for playing VGs, followed by coping with stress. Respondents reported playing VGs at home/off duty more often than when on duty or when underway/deployed. Sailors seem to be more consistent than Marines in their gaming habits. Depending on the setting, gamers reported playing VGs on average 3.75-6 days in a typical week for ~2-3 hours/day. Gamers reported playing VGs generally later in the day (i.e., after work and before bedtime) with 5% to 18% of gamers sleeping later due to VGs. Most gamers reported playing VGs in their racks or the mess decks/common areas when deployed/underway. Gamers reported symptoms of depression (~23% of ADSMs), generalized anxiety disorder (~19%), excessive daytime sleepiness (~33%), and AUDIT-C scores suggestive of heavy drinking (39%). Also, ~32% of gamers reported dissatisfaction with their life. More excessive gamers tended to be younger, used dysfunctional coping styles more frequently, and played video games more frequently and for more hours. Also, more excessive gamers were more likely to report sleeping later because of playing video games, and exhibited more symptoms of major depression, generalized anxiety, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Depending on the criterion used, the prevalence of disordered gaming in the study samples ranged from 0 to 4.85%. Of those who reported playing VGs, ~50% of Marines and 25% of Sailors were identified as problematic gamers. We developed several recommendations and action items, including suggestions for follow-on research.Naval Postgraduate SchoolNaval Research ProgramPE 0605853N/2098Approved for public release; distribution is unlimite