ÇOCUKLARIN DİJİTAL OYUN BAĞIMLILIĞI İLE ALGILADIKLARI EBEVEYN TUTUMLARI ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİ

Abstract

Rapid technological developments in recent years have led to a significant increase in the number and variety of digital games. These developments have also brought about some negative consequences. In particular, excessive and uncontrolled use of digital games can cause psychosocial problems in individuals and pave the way for game addiction, which is a form of behavioral addiction. In this context, the main objective of this study is to examine middle school students' levels of digital game addiction and their perceptions of family attitudes. This study used a correlational survey model, and the study group consisted of a total of 182 participants, including 94 female and 88 male students studying in Ankara, and their parents. The Personal Information Form, Digital Game Addiction Scale, Parenting Styles-Family Attitudes Scale, and Digital Parenting Awareness Scale were used to collect data for the research. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analyses were performed in the thesis study. The study found that middle school students had a moderate-to-low level of digital game addiction. Parents' awareness levels regarding the effective use of digital parenting are above average, their levels of protection from risks are average, and their levels of negative modeling and digital neglect are below average. No statistically significant relationship was found between parents' acceptance, interest, affection, and strict supervision/control levels and children's digital game sub-dimensions or overall addiction levels. It was found that the father's attitude towards the child significantly predicted the child's overall level of digital game addiction, while the mother's attitude towards the child did not significantly predict the child's overall level of digital game addiction.