The relationship between body image and digital game addiction tendency in preschool children

Body image refers to an individual's emotional and cognitive evaluations of their own body. In children, body image can be influenced by various factors such as media, peer relationships, and parental attitudes. It has been observed that idealized body images presented in digital games may lead to dissatisfaction with their own bodies. While digital games can improve hand-eye coordination, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills, excessive gaming may result in negative consequences such as social isolation, a decline in academic achievement, and physical inactivity. While digital games foster imagination, they may also cause children to become disconnected from the physical world and reduce their awareness of their bodies. In this study, the relationship between body image and digital game addiction tendencies was examined in preschool children. Digital game addiction tendencies were measured with sub-dimensions such as "detachment from life," "conflict," "continuous play," and "reflection on life." The relationships between these sub-dimensions and body image, as well as the differentiation of digital game addiction tendencies and body image according to demographic factors (age, gender, parental education level, parental employment status), were analyzed. The data were collected from a sample of 116 preschool children aged 4, 5, and 6, residing in Adana and Mersin, Turkey. Participation was voluntary. Parents of the children in the study were administered the Digital Game Addiction Scale (DOBE), and the children were administered the Body Image Silhouette Tests. The relationships between digital game addiction tendencies, body image, and demographic variables, such as age, gender, and parental education and employment status, were key focus areas of the research. To examine whether there is a significant relationship between body image and digital game addiction tendencies, SPSS 22.0 was used, and statistical tests such as simple linear correlation, independent sample t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were applied. The analyses revealed that the total digital game addiction tendency score, the "reflection on life" subscale, and the "continuous play" subscale showed a low but significant positive correlation with body image. This study aims to contribute to the existing literature on the relationship between digital game addiction tendencies and body image. It is recommended to examine this issue with different variables and larger sample groups in future studies.