The relationship of competition and compulsive online purchase behavior in online gaming addiction

Online games have evolved into an economic structure that encourages players to spend continuously through the microtransaction systems, cosmetic items, and premium content they offer. This situation paves the way for uncontrollable purchasing behavior, particularly among individuals at risk of gaming addiction. Compulsive online purchasing refers to the tendency of individuals to shop impulsively and often beyond their actual needs. In the context of gaming, this behavior can be reinforced by motivations such as character enhancement, visual differentiation, or gaining in-game status. Competition is one of the fundamental dynamics of online games. Ranking systems, tournaments, leaderboards, and player comparisons constantly drive individuals to perform better and gain an edge over other players. This competitive structure can cause some players to devote more time and financial resources to the game, potentially increasing the risk of gaming addiction. At the same time, players under competitive pressure may turn to in-game purchases in order to gain an advantage over their rivals or to gain prestige within the community. This study aims to examine the relationships between online gaming addiction, compulsive online purchasing behavior, and competitiveness tendencies. The population of the study consists of individuals who play online games. The sample comprises 276 participants aged 18 and over, reached through convenience sampling. The research aims to reveal the possible effects of online gaming addiction on individuals' psychological health and social lives. In this regard, it aims to statistically determine the levels of exposure of individuals to these effects, along with changes in increased computer use and online gaming time. In particular, the psychosocial consequences of online gaming addiction that trigger compulsive online purchasing behavior and reinforce competitiveness tendencies will be investigated. According to the research findings, Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive and significant relationship between online gaming addiction and competitiveness (r = .600, p < .001). A weakly positive and statistically significant relationship (r = .220, p < .001) was found between online gaming addiction and compulsive online purchasing behavior. According to the results of the simple linear regression analysis, competition explains 36% of the variance in online gaming addiction. Compulsive online purchasing behavior explains 5% of the variance in online gaming addiction. The independent samples t-test revealed that gender has a significant effect on the research variables. This study aims to contribute to the relevant literature by examining the effects of online gaming addiction on social relationships, psychological health, and personal development.