In Love with the Interface: otome Game Engagement and the Psychosocial Development of Young Adult Cisgender Filipinas
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This study examined the relationship between otome game engagement and the psychosocial development of young adult cisgender Filipinas. Guided by Parasocial Interaction Theory, Identity Development Theory, and Uses and Gratifications Theory, the study employed a quantitative correlational design to assess whether usage frequency, emotional investment (parasocial processing), and financial investment (in-game content purchase motivation) were associated with identity development, psychological well-being, real-life social interaction, and real-life romantic expectations. A total of 118 young adult cisgender Filipinas (aged 18 to 25) who were active otome game players were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling from online otome gaming communities and university networks. Data were collected using a structured online questionnaire incorporating validated and researcher-developed scales, and analyzed using Spearman's rho correlation and multiple linear regression. Results indicated that usage frequency, parasocial processing, and in-game content purchase motivation were significantly and positively associated with real-life social interaction and romantic expectations, and that parasocial processing and in-game purchase motivation significantly predicted identity development. However, none of the engagement variables significantly predicted psychological well-being. These findings suggest that otome game engagement, particularly emotional and financial investment, is meaningfully linked to identity exploration, social experience, and romantic perception among young adult Filipinas, while exerting limited measurable influence on general psychological well-being.
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