Attachment, attraction and communication in real and virtual worlds: a study of massively multiplayer online gamers

Coulson, Mark, Oskis, Andrea ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0194-2679, Meredith, Jacqueline ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1066-6549 and Gould, Rebecca (2018) Attachment, attraction and communication in real and virtual worlds: a study of massively multiplayer online gamers. Computers in Human Behavior, 87 . pp. 49-57. ISSN 0747-5632 [Article] (doi:10.1016/j.chb.2018.05.017)

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.05.017

Abstract

Potential differences between relationships formed in online versus offline venues were explored using an online survey of massively multiplayer online gamers. Participants (N=1654) provided information about two or more relationships (kin, friends, and romantic relationships), indicating whether these had originated in online or offline venues. Attachment, attraction and communication were assessed for each relationship. Relationship security was predicted by attraction, but the effects of venue were limited to avoidance towards online romantic relationships. Personality, gaming motivation, age and sex all made negligible contributions to relationship security. Limitations, including the correlational nature of the data and the high proportion of male participants, as well as suggestions for how relationship research might proceed in an increasingly online world, are discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Research Areas:	A. > School of Science and Technology > Psychology
Item ID:	24267
Notes on copyright:	© 2018. This author's accepted manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Useful Links:	Publisher Middlesex University Expert Profile Middlesex University Expert Profile Middlesex University Expert Profile Publisher's T&Cs
Depositing User:	Mark Coulson
Date Deposited:	16 May 2018 09:09
Last Modified:	29 Nov 2022 19:37
URI:	https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/id/eprint/24267

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