Escapism and Excessive Online Behaviors: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study in Finland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Excessive online behaviors refer to harmful or disproportionate use of digital network applications. Such behaviors are likely to be associated with escapist motives. Our aim was to analyze whether escapism predicts excessive gambling, excessive gaming, and excessive internet use over time. A longitudinal sample of Finnish residents aged 18–75 years (n = 1022, 51.27% male) was surveyed at three time points during the COVID-19 pandemic in 6-month intervals: April 2021 (Time 1), October–November 2021 (Time 2), and April–May 2022 (Time 3). Of the original Time 1 respondents, 66.80% took part in the surveys at both Time 2 and Time 3. All surveys included measures for excessive gambling (Problem Gambling Severity Index), excessive gaming (Internet Gaming Disorder Test), and excessive internet use (Compulsive Internet Use Scale). Three escapism-specific questions were used to construct a dedicated escapism variable. Socio-demographic variables, alcohol consumption, and psychological distress were used as controls. The study was conducted with multilevel regression analyses using hybrid models. Our research showed that escapism had strong within-person effects on excessive gambling, B = 0.18, p = 0.003; excessive gaming, B = 0.50, p < 0.001; and excessive internet use, B = 0.77, p < 0.001 over time. The between-person effect of escapism was demonstrated on excessive gaming B = 0.91, p < 0.001, and excessive internet use B = 0.61, p = 0.036. Adverse societal events and uncertain times can manifest in excessive online behaviors motivated by escapism, highlighting a need to focus prevention efforts on healthy coping methods.

Need for Distinctiveness Leads to Pathological Internet Use? The Perspective of Cognitive Behavioral Model

“…According to the anonymity, convenience, escape model (ACE model), the three features of the Internet including anonymity, convenience and escape, contribute to PIU [ 16 ]. This model has also been demonstrated by copious empirical studies [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Therefore, we assumed that individuals high in need for distinctiveness are more likely than individuals low in need for distinctiveness to satisfy their needs on the Internet, which may lead to PIU.…”

The Metaverse: A new digital frontier for consumer behavior

“…Although what constitutes “excessive” usage is likely subjective, the immersive nature of the Metaverse may make it particularly addictive for some consumers, especially those who wish to escape the realities of their physical world. Yet, while escapism and cyberspace addiction can lead to serious mental health issues (Jeong et al, 2015), it is also possible that the Metaverse can serve as a beneficial reprieve from the stresses of our (often hectic) lives in the physical world (Jouhki et al, 2022), a notion supported by the therapeutic and stress‐relieving benefits of some virtual reality applications (Gerber et al, 2017; Jerdan et al, 2018; Maples‐Keller et al, 2017; White et al, 2018). Thus, using the Metaverse as an escape may, in certain contexts and doses, have positive effects on consumers' mental health.…”