Social network creation and formation of social capital (i.e., personal benefits through relationship) have been discussed as among the most important aspects of online games ( Kolo and Baur, 2004 Taylor, 2006 Ju and Lee., 2018 Perry et al., 2018). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. These results indicate that games work as an important tool for social capital cultivation among adolescent gamers, which imply successful cultivation of social capital is a key to positive gaming effects. However, a vicious circle was found in the lower social capital group: Gaming time increased the degree of depression but decreased self-esteem, which in turn led to increase in gaming time. In the higher social capital group, gaming time enhanced the degree of self-esteem and life satisfaction. Results showed that social capital played a crucial moderating role. Specifically, by using the three-year longitudinal data involving 403 adolescents, we analyzed the effect of gaming time on psychological factors (i.e., loneliness, depression, self-esteem, and life satisfaction) with the moderating role of social capital.

This study was designed to fill this gap to see the long-term effect of social capital among adolescent gamers. In particular, longitudinal research that examines the role of social capital in terms of influencing gaming time on adolescent gamers’ psychosocial factors has been minimal. Although this is a common phenomenon in online games, few studies have focused on the formation and roles of social capital among adolescent gamers. Through collaboration and competition in the games, the social relationships of adolescents are becoming broader and thicker. Adolescents often create social relationships with their gaming peers who take on the role of offline friends and peer groups.

Gender transformation game online