Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) and Socio-Emotional Wellbeing

Expanding and building on our previous study, the current study mainly explored the degree to which older adults' social interactions in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) are associated with four socio-emotional factors. A total of 222 older World of Warcraft players, recruited online, completed a Web questionnaire. Consistent with the findings of the previous study, older adults' socio-emotional wellbeing was associated with the quality of guild play and enjoyment of relationship. Socio-emotional wellbeing was not associated with the amount of gameplay, intensity of interaction, network level and social motivation for playing MMORPGs. In addition, the findings also indicated that a large number of older adults developed meaningful online relationships with their game friends, but that it would be difficult for them to integrate these online friends into their 'real' lives. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.