Digital addiction: Are children in danger? Are parents aware?

PURPOSE

To determine the digital game addiction levels of secondary school students and to examine the parental awareness against digital game addiction levels of students.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This is a descriptive and correlational study. The population of the study consisted of students in a secondary school and 392 students were included in the study. The data were collected using the "Digital Parenting Awareness Scale (DPAS)," and "Digital Game Addiction Scale for Children (DGAS-child form). In the study, Kurtosis and Skewness coefficients were used for normal distribution; mean, standard deviation, percentage, and frequency were used to evaluate quantitative data; and Pearson chi-square analysis was used to make correlational inferences.

RESULT

The DGAS mean score of the students was 47.31 ± 16.19. The results of the study showed that the parents had high level of digital awareness. It was found that the students' DGAS mean score had a weak positive correlation with RM subscale of DPAS and a moderate positive correlation with DN subscale of DPAS. DGAS mean score had a weak negative correlation with EU and PR subscales of DPAS. Parents-children's age did not affect the levels of DGAS and DPAS.

CONCLUSION

Raising parents' digital awareness reduces digital game addiction in their children.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

One of the most important roles of nurses is education. Parent trainings for children to use digital devices correctly and efficiently contribute to improving digital awareness of parents and protecting/promoting child health.