Abstract

LOPEZ-MORA, C; ALVAREZ, O; GONZALEZ-HERNANDEZ, J  and  CASTILLO, I. Anxiety sensitivity and video game addiction in athletes. The protective role of mental toughness. CPD [online]. 2022, vol.22, n.1, pp.124-137.  Epub Sep 19, 2022. ISSN 1989-5879.  https://dx.doi.org/10.6018/cpd.466831.

Video game overuse and addiction among athletes is a recent and growing concern. Anxiety sensitivity is a risk factor for addictive behaviors, just as mental toughness, widely associated with athletes, is a protective element. The present study examines the relationships between anxiety sensitivity, mental toughness and video game addiction in this context. The sample was composed of athletes (n = 98) aged 19-51 years (M age = 23.94; SD = 7.72) of whom 64 were male and 34 females. Applying descriptive instruments on anxiety sensitivity, mental toughness and video game addiction and dependence, the results indicated that an increase in physical or social anxiety sensitivity correlated with a decrease in mental toughness that in turn was associated with an increase in video game tolerance. Sensitivity to social and physical anxiety had indirect effects on video game abuse and tolerance through mental toughness in athletes. The results are discussed around the role of mental toughness in understanding video game addiction problems in athletes.

Keywords : Addiction; Videogames; Sport; Mental Toughness; Anxiety.

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