NCT07270315

Self-Compassion and Problematic Gaming: A Randomized Trial

Effects of Self-Compassion on Reducing Problematic Gaming and Its Underlying Mechanisms: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 308 (actual)
• Sponsor: Beijing Normal University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study investigates the impact of self-compassion on reducing problematic gaming behaviors among young adults. Problematic gaming has been linked to anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction, and this study aims to assess how self-compassion can address these issues. The study explores the role of basic psychological needs and social anxiety as mediators in this process. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 308 online game players (M = 22.40, SD = 3.52), who were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 194) or a waitlist group (n = 114). The intervention consisted of an online self-compassion program. Participants completed pretest, posttest, and follow-up questionnaires to assess the changes in self-compassion and problematic gaming behaviors. The results indicated that the intervention significantly increased self-compassion and reduced problematic gaming through the same mediating pathways of basic psychological needs and social anxiety. These findings suggest that self-compassion training may be an effective intervention for reducing problematic gaming behaviors among young adults, with implications for mental health interventions in gaming communities.

Conditions

• Problematic Gaming
• Self-Compassion

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Positive Self - 14-Day Online Self-Compassion Course	The Positive Self intervention is a 14-day online course designed to enhance self-compassion. The course includes 14 didactic videos (approximately 10 minutes each) on self-compassion concepts and applications, along with 14 guided audio meditations (approximately 6 minutes each). The meditation practice involves breathing meditation for the first 3 days, followed by 11 days of loving-kindness meditation. This intervention has been shown to effectively promote self-compassion in previous research.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-10-15
• Primary completion: 2024-02-09
• Completion: 2024-04-21
• First posted: 2025-12-08
• Last updated: 2025-12-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China