Gizem Çakıcı YAŞAR, Ayşegül YETKİN TEKİN, Pınar ALGEDİK
Anatolian Current Medical Journal - 2026;8(1):77-82
Aims: Digital game addiction (DGA) is a significant public health concern with an increasing prevalence in adolescents. DGA 's sociodemographic associated factors and relationship with anger expression have not yet been sufficiently investigated. In this context, this study was conducted to determine DGA 's sociodemographic associated factors and explore the relationship between DGA and anger expression in adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study's population consisted of 558 students between the ages of 15 and 18 enrolled in a high school in Istanbul. The Digital Game Addiction Scale (DGAS-7) was used to evaluate DGA, and the State-Trait Anger Scale (STAS) was used to evaluate anger. The data obtained were evaluated with the Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Spearman correlation analysis. Results: The prevalence of DGA in the study sample, which consisted of 148 females and 152 males, was 35%. DGA was significantly higher in male students than female students (43.4% vs. 26.4%, p=0.002). STAS anger expression subscale scores of students with DGA were significantly higher than those without DGA (165.61 vs. 142.36; p=0.024). A significant positive correlation was found between DGA and the mother's education level (p = 0.009). The association with DGA was found to be highest in 9th-grade students (45.3%). Conclusion: Anger expression was high in adolescents with DGA. Male gender, low-grade level, and high educational level of the mother were found to be associated factors for DGA. Intervention programs aimed at preventing DGA need to address these associated factors.
