Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Cottrell, Catherine

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to learn more about the interactions between loneliness, social interaction, behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, and video game use in an effort to approach affordable and accessible remedies to mental health issues caused by self-quarantining and social isolation. In early 2021, 147 adult participants were measured on their subjective loneliness, the average amount of time they socially interacted in person and online, how much of an impact COVID-19 had on their social lives, and their video game behaviors. Participants were asked if they played video games, if they played video games online, and how much voice, video, and text chat they used when playing online games. A negative correlation was found between loneliness and in-person social interaction, and between loneliness and online social interaction. There was no significant correlation found between loneliness and use of voice, video, or text chat, however, there was an indication of a positive (though nonsignificant) correlation between loneliness and voice chat usage. This study has affirmed important points about loneliness and social interaction and has also opened up research to new questions regarding treatment of loneliness, specifically in the domain of video games.

Download

Share

COinS