Five-Factor Model Traits as Predictors of Pathological Gaming among Selected Filipino Gamers

Pathological gaming is the recurrent, persistent, and excessive involvement of an individual with online or offline video games. According to the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution Model of Brand, Young, Laier, Wolfling, and Potenza, pathological gaming is a consequence of interactions between the person's core characteristics, coping styles, and conditioning processes, which leads to behavioral addictions. Studies have shown that personality traits strongly influence video gaming behaviors. In this study, 1026 Filipino gamers completed the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory-3 and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale. The results with the Five-Factor Model Traits showed Neuroticism to be positively correlated with pathological gaming, while Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness were negatively correlated with pathological gaming. Forward stepwise regression also indicated that Agreeableness and Conscientiousness were negative predictors, with Conscientiousness being the strongest predictor among the five factors. The findings of the study can help raise awareness about pathological gaming, and the importance of its prevention and possible rehabilitation, among Filipino gamers.