The effect of adolescents' physical activity level on perceptions of digital game addiction: The moderating role of parental perceptions

This research has two main objectives. The first aim of this study is to determine the levels of digital game addiction and the physical activity levels of adolescents according to their own perceptions and their parents' perceptions of them and to examine the relationships between these variables. The second aim is to reveal the predictive relationship between the physical activity levels of adolescents and their perceptions of digital game addiction and the moderating role of parents' perceptions of digital game addiction in this relationship. The research was conducted within the framework of the descriptive relational screening model. The research sample group consists of 776 students (436 girls, 340 boys) studying in the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades of secondary education (high school) and 764 parents of the students. In this study, the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were administered to volunteer students to measure their digital game addiction levels. The Family-Based Gaming Disorder Scale (Gaming Disorder Scale-for Family) was administered to measure parents' perceptions. According to the findings, it was determined that the students' Internet Gaming Disorder Scale and the parents' Game Addiction Scale Family Form mean scores were not high. Statistically significant differences were observed in the gender variable of the digital game addiction levels of adolescents. A statistically significant difference was found in the mean values of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form between students who have easy access to technological tools and the Internet and students who do not have easy access. The relationships between adolescents' perceived digital game addiction, their children's perceived digital game addiction, and adolescents' physical activity levels were determined using the multiple moderation method. Pearson correlation test was applied to determine the relationships between the physical activity level of adolescents, their own perception of digital game addiction, and parents' perception of digital game addiction towards their children. A statistically significant difference was found between the students' physical activity level and their perceived digital game addiction level (p <0.01). According to parental perceptions, which is the moderating variable, it was observed that the effect of physical activity on adolescents' perceptions of digital game addiction increased when adolescents' digital game addiction scores were at low and moderate levels. Keywords: Digital Game Addiction, Physical Activity, Adolescence, Parental Perception