Abstract

MMOG addiction has been related to unfavorable psychological results and mental health and well-being in the recent decade. MMOG addiction and psychological condition (aggression, sadistic tendencies, anxiety, despair, and stress) were examined in university undergraduates. Three hundred fifty-five Peshawar University undergraduates were selected using convenient purposive sampling. The MMOG-MS (Demetrovics et al., 2011) measured gaming addiction, the K-6 measured psychological distress, the SABS-10 measured sadistic tendencies, and the DASS-21 measured depression, anxiety, and stress. MMOG players may have higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. MMOGs also increase sadistic behavior and aggressiveness. Sadistic behavior may also partially mediate MMOG aggression. Urban and rural kids did not differ on six variables. MMOGs and mental health outcomes may be complex and context-dependent; therefore, additional research is needed to understand the mechanisms. MMOG addiction and undergraduate psychology were studied. MMOGs were linked to sadness, anxiety, and stress.