The mediating role of peer bullying and perceived stress in the relationship between digital gaming addiction and psychological resilience in children aged 10-13 years

The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of peer bullying and perceived stress in the relationship between digital game addiction and psychological resilience in children aged 10-13 years. The research was carried out in a relational design based on a quantitative research approach in line with the objectives. The study group of the study consists of 690 secondary school students who continue their education in various secondary schools in a province located in the Central Black Sea Region in 2023-2024. Data were collected using the Child and Adolescent Psychological Resilience Scale, Digital Game Addiction Scale for Children (DGADAS), Perceived Stress Scale for Secondary School Students, Peer Bullying Scale and Personal Information Form. The relationships between the data collected from the participants and the variables were determined using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient technique. Process Macro Model 6 application was used in mediation analysis. As a result of the analyses, psychological resilience and internet game addiction, perceived stress and peer bullying are negatively related; perceived stress and peer bullying are negatively related; perceived stress and internet game addiction are positively related. Significant positive relationships were found between peer bullying and internet game addiction. According to the mediation analysis, it was found that the effect of psychological resilience on internet game addiction through perceived stress and peer bullying was significant.