MOOD DYSREGULATION, SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT AND LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION AMONG E-GAMERS: MODERATING ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS

Abstract

Background: Excessive online gaming has emerged as a global psychological concern, particularly among youth, leading to emotional instability, social maladjustment, and distress. Prolonged gaming exposure can disrupt mood regulation and increase frustration tolerance thresholds, mimicking symptoms observed in disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). Understanding these psychological mechanisms among e-gamers is crucial for developing targeted prevention and intervention strategies to mitigate the emotional and behavioral consequences of digital gaming addiction.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of mood dysregulation on social adjustment and level of frustration among e-gamers, while also exploring the moderating role of psychological distress.

Methods: A correlational research design was employed using purposive sampling. Data were collected from 304 participants (123 men, 181 women) aged 16–25 years (M = 20.33, SD = 2.34) from various cities in Pakistan. Screening was conducted through the Game Addiction Scale (cutoff ≥17.5). Standardized instruments measured mood dysregulation, psychological distress, social adjustment issues, and level of frustration. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26, applying Pearson correlation, linear regression, ANOVA, t-tests, and Hayes’ PROCESS macro for moderation analysis. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained before data collection.

Results: Pearson correlation analysis showed significant positive relationships among all variables: mood dysregulation with psychological distress (r = .66, p < .01), social adjustment issues (r = .45, p < .01), and level of frustration (r = .43, p < .01). Regression results indicated that mood dysregulation significantly predicted social adjustment (β = .45, R² = .21, p < .001) and level of frustration (β = .43, R² = .19, p < .001). Moderation analysis revealed that psychological distress negatively moderated the association between mood dysregulation and frustration (β = –.009, p < .01).

Conclusion: Excessive gaming significantly elevates mood dysregulation, frustration, and social maladjustment among youth. These findings highlight the need for early psychological interventions to prevent DMDD-like symptoms and guide mental health professionals in addressing gaming-related emotional dysregulation.