MOTIVATION FACTORS IN VIDEO GAMES FOR PREDICTING LIFE SATISFACTION IN A PREADOLESCENT RURAL POPULATION

The aim of this cross-sectional online study was to test the role of motivation factors for playing online video games in predicting the relative contribution of variance in the construct of life satisfaction in preadolescents. The Pertinent sample included (N = 423) children in rural areas of the Republic of Serbia (M age = 10.56, SD = 1.10). The following original measuring instruments were applied: Motivation For Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game Questionnaire (MMORPG), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and Video game genre. The extracted latent dimensions suggest that the 10-factor structure of motivation for playing online video games is differentiated, with certain factors being more relevant than others for interpreting motivation for playing. The multiple regression analysis explained 25% of the variance of the criterion variable of life satisfaction. In the prediction of the dependent variable of life satisfaction based on a model of 10 motivation factors – the factors advancement (β = -0.52, p ≤ 0.01) and escaping reality (β = -0.48, p ≤ 0.01) showed statistical significance. This suggests that they have a significant function in predicting the perception of life satisfaction among students living in rural areas. Keywords: motivation, video game genre, online gaming, preadolescents, rural population