The relationship between university students' digital game addiction, attachment style, and emotion regulation levels

This research was conducted to examine the relationship between digital game addiction, attachment styles, and emotion regulation levels among university students.This study also aims to examine whether digital game addiction, attachment styles, and emotion regulation levels differs according to demographic variables (gender, age, marital status,preferred device type for gaming, age of starting digital gaming,preferred device type for gaming). The study was conducted using a correlation survey method and collected through convenient sampling. The sample group of the research consisted of 314 undergraduate students (Nfemales=158 females, Nmales=156) studying at private and public universities. Research data were obtained using a demographic information form prepared by the researcher, the Digital Game Addiction Scale for University Students (Hazar & Hazar, 2019), the Three-Dimensional Attachment Styles Scale (Erzen, 2016), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Totan, 2015). In the study, Independent T-test was used for comparisons between two groups, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for comparisons of three or more groups, and Pearson Correlation Analysis was used for examining the relationships between scales. According to the research findings, a strong positive correlation between Excessive Focus and Procrastination and Withdrawal and Craving indicates that symptoms of digital game addiction are closely related to each other. This relationship underscores the addictive effects of digital games, emphasizing their extensive impact on individual behavior and experiences, while the negative relationship between secure attachment style and symptoms of digital game addiction highlights the potential of healthy social relationships and secure attachment to reduce addictive tendencies. On the other hand, the presence of a positive correlation between avoidant and anxious-ambivalent attachment styles and symptoms of digital game addiction suggests that these attachment styles may be psychological factors that increase the risk of addiction. Keywords: Digital Game Addiction, Attachment Styles, Emotion Regulation, University Students