The relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and smoking and digital game addiction among high school students

Adolescence is a physically and psychologically challenging and stressful period in which great changes occur in an individual's life. Transition to adulthood less stressfully and without any serious trials and tribulations is very important. Based on this, the present study discussed the prevalence of smoking and digital game addiction, which pose a great risk for high school students, and investigated the relationship between these behaviors and dysfunctional attitudes. The target population of the study consisted of 11th grade students enrolled in public high schools in the central boroughs of Mersin. The sample of the study included 1,119 students from different types of schools, which accounted for more than 10% of the target population. Data were collected by using the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), the Digital Game Addiction Scale (DGAS), and a sociodemographic information form. The present study found that smoking, digital game addiction and dysfunctional attitudes were interrelated at different significance levels. Accordingly, there was a statistically significant difference between dysfunctional attitudes and, especially, perfectionism, one of its sub-dimensions, and smoking. The mean total DAS and perfectionism scores of the students who smoke were higher compared to those who do not smoke. Similarly, the difference between digital game addiction and smoking was statistically significant, which showed that digital game addiction was more common among the students who smoke. There was also a statistically significant difference between dysfunctional attitudes and digital game addiction. The total scores of DAS and two of its sub-dimensions, perfectionism and need for approval, were found to be higher among the adolescents who have digital game addiction.