Ünzile Feyza KARAKOÇ, Çağlar Charles Daniel JAICKS
Bağımlılık Dergisi - 2026;27(2):63-74
Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between digital parenting attitudes and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) symptoms among children and adolescents, and to investigate whether Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms play a moderating role in this relationship. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 193 children and adolescents aged 10-17 years and their parents. Digital parenting attitudes were assessed using the Digital Parenting Attitude Scale, ADHD-related symptoms were measured with the Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised Short Form, and IGD symptoms were evaluated using the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form. Group comparisons were performed using independent samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA. Results: Male children differed significantly from female children in cognitive problems/inattention (p=0.002), hyperactivity symptoms (p<0.001), ADHD index scores (p=0.027), and IGD severity (p=0.001). Frequency of technology use was significantly associated with cognitive problems/inattention (p=0.048) and IGD severity (p<0.001). IGD symptoms were positively correlated with oppositional behavior (r=0.28, p<0.05), cognitive problems/inattention (r=0.42, p<0.001), hyperactivity symptoms (r=0.33, p<0.001), and ADHD index scores (r=0.49, p<0.001). Digital parenting attitudes were not significantly associated with IGD severity. Moderation analyses showed that ADHD symptoms (B=3.3, p<0.001) and hyperactivity symptoms (B=3.6, p<0.001) were significantly associated with IGD severity, whereas the interaction terms were not statistically significant (p=0.300; p=0.568). Conclusion: The findings suggest that ADHD-related symptoms were more closely associated with IGD severity than digital parenting attitudes in this sample. Preventive and intervention strategies should prioritize the identification and management of ADHD-related vulnerabilities within a broader family context rather than focusing solely on digital parenting practices.
