School of Psychologyfaculty of Health Sciences

Dr Daniel King School of Psychology Faculty of Health Sciences The University of Adelaide Email: [email protected]

Cam Adair Founder, Game Quitters Email: [email protected]

The Game Quitters challenge: Complete the 90 Day "No Gaming" Detox

Description of the study: This study aims to explore an unresolved area in gaming research: what happens when people stop playing or take a break from video-gaming? This study will examine changes in people’s wellbeing and quality of life, emotions and thoughts about gaming before and during a 90-day “break from gaming” period.

Anybody aged 18 years or older and who currently engages in video-gaming is invited to participate in the study.

Background: Video-gaming is becoming increasingly popular in nations worldwide, particularly video- gaming over the Internet. As a result, researchers have studied people’s motivations for playing video-games, and how these motivations relate to video-gaming behaviour, including time spent playing and the use of video-games for social interaction.

However, there is a lack of research exploring people’s experiences when they stop playing or take a break from video-gaming, which may provide further insight into the reasons that people play games and enjoy games. Therefore, it is hoped that the current study will lead to a better understanding of the factors that maintain people's involvement in video-games.

What will I be asked to do? Participation in the study will involve taking a 90-day break from video-gaming as part of the Game Quitters challenge. Information obtained from the questionnaires will allow researchers to track changes in people’s digital media use, mood, well-being, social activity, and thoughts and feelings about video-gaming.

You will be sent instructions for completing the study via the email address that you used to first contact the researchers, including reminders and web-links for the online questionnaires. This email address will also be used to provide further study information (if needed), and ensure that your questionnaire responses are kept together.

Will I be identifiable by being involved in this study? No identifying information will be sought from participants, and participants will NOT BE identified in any publications resulting from this research. Ethics of this study: This project has received ethics approval from the University of Adelaide Human Research Ethics Subcommittee (project no: 16/68).

Participation in this study is entirely voluntary and you are free to withdraw at any time.

Although this study is not expected to cause harm to participants, previous research has indicated that ceasing video-gaming may be associated with negative emotional states, including restlessness, irritability, and sadness. In the event that you experience any anxiety, depression or discomfort during this study, we urge that you seek help from one of the following services in Australia:

Beyond Blue (24 hour telephone support counselling) Phone: 1300 22 4636

Lifeline Australia (24 hour telephone crisis support counselling) Phone: 13 11 14

Outside of Australia, in the event that you believe your video-gaming has become problematic, help is available from your GP and from organisations such as Online Gamers Anonymous (http://www.olganon.org/).

Researcher contact information: If you have any further questions about the study, are seeking clarification at any point during the study, or wish to raise a concern or complaint about the study, please contact the researchers below:

Investigators: Dr Daniel King School of Psychology The University of Adelaide Email: [email protected]

Cam Adair Game Quitters Founder, Game Quitters Email: [email protected]

If you wish to discuss with an independent person matters related to:  making a complaint, or  raising concerns on the conduct of the project, or  the University policy on research involving human participants, or  your rights as a participant, Contact Linley Denson, Deputy Convenor, the School of Psychology Human Research Ethics Committee on phone (08) 8313 5693 or by email to [email protected].

**Please retain a copy of this information sheet for future reference**