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Digital gaming and students’ psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic : an exploratory study

Mini Dissertation (MA (Counselling Psychology)) - University of Pretoria, 2023.

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Other Authors: Coetzee, Nicoleen
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2024
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Coetzee, Nicoleen
author_browse Coetzee, Nicoleen
author_facet Coetzee, Nicoleen
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Mini Dissertation (MA (Counselling Psychology)) - University of Pretoria, 2023.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:16.420Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2024
publishDateRange 2024
publishDateSort 2024
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/94233 Digital gaming and students’ psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic : an exploratory study Coetzee, Nicoleen melissasimonefrank@gmail.com Frank, Melissa UCTD Mental health Psychological wellbeing COVID-19 South Africa Students Anxiety Depression Digital gaming Non-violent games Violent games SDG-03: Good health and well-being Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) SDG-03: Good health and well-being Humanities these SDG-03 Mini Dissertation (MA (Counselling Psychology)) - University of Pretoria, 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant effect on global wellbeing. The transition from in-person to online learning, COVID-19-related health issues, social restrictions, anxieties surrounding the wellbeing of loved ones, and uncertainty regarding the future significantly impacted the student population’s psychological wellbeing. This in turn resulted in elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression. To combat social isolation students embraced digital gaming to maintain a sense of social connection. Many of these games contain elements of violence, which have long been associated with negative psychological wellbeing. The main aim of this study was therefore to determine the effects of violent versus non-violent digital gaming on the psychological wellbeing of students following the COVID-19 lockdown. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed for the study. A convenience sample was used, which consisted of 114 students from the University of Pretoria divided into three groups, namely violent gamers, non-violent gamers, and the control group. The participants completed an online questionnaire consisting of a biographical questionnaire; the PERMA-Profiler, which measured Positive Emotions, Engagement, Positive Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment; and the State-Trait Personality Inventory Form Y (STPI-Y), which measured State and Trait Anxiety as well as State and Trait Depression. The results of the MANOVA, accompanied by a follow-up ANOVA indicated significant differences between the groups on the State Anxiety subscale. Lastly, a standard multiple regression analysis indicated that State Depression and Trait Depression were significant predictors of wellbeing. The results of the study indicated that engaging in gameplay resulted in higher levels of psychological wellbeing when compared to those who did not engage in gameplay during the time of the study. Psychology MA (Counselling Psychology) Unrestricted Faculty of Humanities SDG-03: Good health and well-being 2024-02-01T14:05:12Z 2024-02-01T14:05:12Z 2024-05-09 2023-10-31 Mini Dissertation * A2024 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/94233 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.25040888 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Mental health
Psychological wellbeing
COVID-19
South Africa
Students
Anxiety
Depression
Digital gaming
Non-violent games
Violent games
SDG-03: Good health and well-being
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG-03: Good health and well-being
Humanities these SDG-03
Digital gaming and students’ psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic : an exploratory study
title Digital gaming and students’ psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic : an exploratory study
title_full Digital gaming and students’ psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic : an exploratory study
title_fullStr Digital gaming and students’ psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic : an exploratory study
title_full_unstemmed Digital gaming and students’ psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic : an exploratory study
title_short Digital gaming and students’ psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic : an exploratory study
title_sort digital gaming and students psychological wellbeing during the covid 19 pandemic an exploratory study
topic UCTD
Mental health
Psychological wellbeing
COVID-19
South Africa
Students
Anxiety
Depression
Digital gaming
Non-violent games
Violent games
SDG-03: Good health and well-being
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG-03: Good health and well-being
Humanities these SDG-03
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/94233
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.25040888