Abstract
Existing scholarship highlights the clinical utility of digital games in reducing stress-related pathologies among military personnel. However, since many servicemembers experience service-related stress but do not meet clinical treatment benchmarks, it is prudent to understand how everyday gameplay may function in self-directed coping associated with physical and psychological stressors. To that end, US military and veteran gamers (MVGs) were surveyed regarding their use of digital games and avatars to deal with service-related challenges. Exploratory multi-method analysis revealed that a substantial proportion of MVGs engage in self-directed coping through digital games. Coping practices variably focus on escapism/diversion, managing physical/psychological maladies, receiving social support, and connecting with civilian life; these coping practices were differently associated with broader gameplay motivations. Additional evidence suggests that military-related avatars may function as institutional identity exemplars in stress-coping related to identity negotiation.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Game Studies |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Combat
- Coping
- Escapism
- Identity
- Military
- Motivations
- Stress
- Veteran
- Video games
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cultural Studies
- Communication
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty
- Applied Mathematics