THE IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A STUDY ON AWARENESS OF DIGITAL GAMING ADDICTION AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the levels of awareness of digital game addiction amongst university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study sample comprised 324 students enrolled in various departments at Istanbul Topkapı University, Fenerbahçe University, Istanbul Rumeli University and Istanbul Nişantaşı University. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form and the Digital Gaming Addiction Awareness Scale (DOBİFÖ), developed by Tekkurşun Demir and Cicioğlu (2020). SPSS 25.0 software was used for data analysis. The data were analysed using the independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA. According to the findings, male students’ levels of internal and overall awareness were found to be significantly higher than those of female students; similarly, participants aged 21–24 and those aged 25 and over had significantly higher levels than those in the 17–20 age group. It was determined that whether participants had contracted COVID-19 or not did result in a significant difference in their levels of awareness. With regard to the variable of the preferred device for gaming, it was concluded that students using mobile phones had significantly higher levels of total awareness compared to those using computers or game consoles. Furthermore, it was found that students whose gaming time increased or decreased during the pandemic had significantly higher levels of internal, external and total awareness compared to those whose gaming time remained unchanged.
Bu araştırma, COVID-19 pandemisi sürecinde üniversite öğrencilerinin dijital oyun bağımlılığına yönelik farkındalık düzeylerini belirlemek amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu İstanbul Topkapı Üniversitesi, Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi, İstanbul Rumeli Üniversitesi ve İstanbul Nişantaşı Üniversitesinin farklı bölümlerinde öğrenim gören 324 öğrenci oluşturmuştur. Çalışma verileri Kişisel Bilgi Formu ile Tekkurşun Demir ve Cicioğlu (2020) tarafından geliştirilen Dijital Oyun Bağımlılığına İlişkin Farkındalık Ölçeği (DOBİFÖ) aracılığıyla elde edilmiştir. Verilerin analizinde ise SPSS 25.0 paket programı kullanılmıştır. Veriler bağımsız örneklemler t testi ve tek yönlü ANOVA ile değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre erkek öğrencilerin içsel ve toplam farkındalık düzeylerinin kadın öğrencilere göre; 21–24 yaş ve 25 yaş ve üzeri katılımcıların ise 17–20 yaş grubuna göre anlamlı derecede daha yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir. Katılımcıların COVID-19 geçirme durumlarının farkındalık düzeyleri üzerinde anlamlı bir farklılık oluşturmadığı tespit edilmiştir. Oyun oynamak için tercih edilen araç değişkeninde cep telefonu kullanan öğrencilerin toplam farkındalık düzeylerinin bilgisayar ve oyun konsolu kullanan öğrencilere göre anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksek olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Ayrıca pandemi sürecinde oyun oynama süresi artan ve azalan öğrencilerin içsel, dışsal ve toplam farkındalık düzeylerinin, oyun süresi değişmeyen öğrencilere kıyasla anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksek olduğu saptanmıştır.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Akçay, D. & Özcebe, H. (2012). An Assessment of Computer Gaming Habits Among Children in Pre-school Education and Their Families. Children’s Journal, 12(2), pp. 66–71
Akgün, Z., Durmaz, S. S., & Hacıhasanoğlu, P. (2020). Online Shopping During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Field Study from the Perspectives of the Extended Technology Acceptance Model and Perceived Anxiety. Idea Studies Journal, 6(19), pp. 433–449. Retrieved from https://ideastudies.com/articles/9c9c2479-7b5c-4094-a62a-2a381a57b090
Alpar, R. (2006). Applied statistics in sports science. Ankara: Nobel Publishing.
Arslan, A. & Bardakçı, S. (2020). An investigation into the effect of university students’ levels of digital addiction on their communication skills. Journal of Youth Studies, 8(20), pp. 36–63.
Arslan, İ., & Karagül, S. (2020). A Global Threat (the COVID-19 Pandemic) and the Journey Towards Change. Üsküdar University Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 10, pp. 1–36. https://doi.org/10.32739/uskudarsbd.6.10.67
Batu, B. & Aydın, A. (2020). An investigation into the levels of exercise addiction among elite swimmers. Gaziantep University Journal of Sports Sciences, 5(4), pp. 399–412.
Bozkuş, T., Türkmen, M., Kul, M., Özkan, A., Öz, Ü., & Cengiz, C. (2013). Determining and correlating the physical activity levels and healthy lifestyle behaviours of students studying at the College of Physical Education and Sport. International Journal of Sport Culture and Science, 1(3), pp. 9–65.
Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822
Burak, Y. (2013). An investigation into the effect of computer games on the aggression levels of primary school pupils in the first stage. Master’s Thesis. Trakya University Institute of Social Sciences.
Büyüköztürk, Ş. (2012). Handbook of Data Analysis (17th ed.). Ankara: Pegem Akademi.
Çavuş, S., Ayhan, B., & Tuncer, M. (2016). Computer Games and Addiction: A Field Study on University Students. Journal of Communication Theory and Research, 2016(43), pp. 265–289. https://izlik.org/JA35XA33WD
Demirtaş Madran, H.A. & Ferligül Çakılcı, E. (2014). Video game addiction and aggression in individuals playing multiplayer online video games. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 15(1), pp. 99–107.
Dursun, A., & Çapan, B. E. (2018). Digital game addiction and psychological needs in adolescents. Journal of the Faculty of Education, Inönü University, 19(2), pp. 128–140.
Erboy, E. (2010). Factors influencing computer game addiction among Year 4 and Year 5 primary school pupils. Master’s Thesis, Adnan Menderes University, Institute of Social Sciences, Aydın.
Fraenkel, J. R., Wallen, N. E., & Hyun, H. H. (2012). How to design and evaluate research in education (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/How_to_Design_and_Evaluate_Research_in_E.html?hl=id&id=bUOPtQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Gao, J., Zheng, P., Jia, Y., Chen, H., Mao, Y., Chen, S., . . . Dai, J. (2020). Mental health problems and social media exposure during the COVID-19 outbreak. PLoS One, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231924
Göker, M. E., & Turan, Ş. (2020). Problematic technology use during the COVID-19 pandemic. ESTÜDAM Public Health Journal, 5 (COVID-19 Special Issue), pp. 108-114.
Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. C. (2014). The benefits of playing video games. The American Psychologist, 69(1), 66–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034857
Günay, G. (2011). The effect of violent online computer games on primary school pupils’ aggressive responses. (Master’s Thesis), Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Institute of Educational Sciences
Irmak, A. Y. & Erdoğan, S. (2015). Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Digital Game Addiction Scale. Anadolu Journal of Psychiatry, 16, pp. 10–19. https://doi.org/10.5455/apd.170337
Irmak, A. Y., & Erdoğan, S. (2016). Digital game addiction in adolescents and young adults: A current perspective. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, 27(2), pp. 128–137. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27370064/
King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., Billieux, J., & Potenza, M. N. (2020). Problematic online gaming and the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Behavioural Addictions, 9(2), 184–186. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2020.00016
Király, O., Potenza, M. N., Stein, D. J., King, D. L., Hodgins, D. C., Saunders, J. B., . . . Demetrovics, Z. (2020). Preventing problematic internet use during the COVID-19 pandemic: Consensus guidance. Comprehensive Psychiatry, vol. 100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152180
Kuzu, A., Odabaşı, F., Erişti, S. D., Kabakçı, I. & Kurt, A. A. (2008). A study on internet use and the family. Ankara: Publications of the General Directorate of Family and Social Research, Prime Ministry of the Republic of Turkey.
Lee, B. W., & Stapinski, L. A. (2012). Seeking safety on the internet: Relationship between social anxiety and problematic internet use. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 26(1), 197–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.11.001
Lemenager, T., Gwodz, A., Richter, A., Reinhard, I., Kämmerer, N., Sell, M., & Mann, K. (2013). Self-concept deficits in massively multiplayer online role-playing games addiction. European Addiction Research, 19(5), 227–234. https://doi.org/10.1159/000345458
Lopez-Fernandez, O., Williams, A.J., Griffiths, M., & Kuss, D.J. (2019). Female gaming, gaming addiction, and the role of women within gaming culture: A narrative literature review. Front. Psychiatry, 10, pp. 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00454.
Mentzoni, R. A., Brunborg, G. S., Molde, H., Myrseth, H., Skouverøe, K. J. M., Hetland, J., & Pallesen, S. (2011). Problematic video game use: estimated prevalence and associations with mental and physical health. Cyberpsychology, Behaviour and Social Networking, 14(10), pp. 591–596 https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2010.0260
Ministry of Health (2020). COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 Infection) Guidance. Available at: https://covid19bilgi.saglik.gov.tr/depo/rehberler/COVID-19_Rehberi.pdf (Accessed 16 April 2021)
Oflu, A., Bükülmez, A., Elmas, E., Tahta, E., & Çeleğen, M. (2020). Comparison of screen time and digital gaming habits of Turkish children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Turkish Archives of Paediatrics, 1(56), pp. 22–26. https://doi.org/10.14744/turkpediatriars.2020.41017
Pala, F. K. & Erdem, M. (2011). A study on the relationships between digital game preferences and reasons for game choice, and gender, class level and learning style. Journal of the Faculty of Education, Ahi Evran University, 12(2), pp. 53–71.
Savcı, M., & Aysan, F. (2017). Technological addictions and social connectedness: The predictive effect of internet addiction, social media addiction, digital gaming addiction and smartphone addiction on social connectedness. Dusunen Adam, 30(3), pp. 202–216. https://doi.org/10.5350/DAJPN2017300304
Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2013). Using multivariate statistics (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/Using_Multivariate_Statistics.html?id=ucj1ygAACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Taş, İ., Eker, H. & Anlı, G. (2014). An investigation into the levels of internet and gaming addiction among secondary school pupils. Online Journal of Technology Addiction & Cyberbullying, 1(2), pp. 37–57.
Tekkurşun Demir, G., & Cicioğlu, H. (2020). The Digital Gaming Addiction Awareness Scale (DOBİFÖ): A validity and reliability study. Eurasian Journal of Sport Sciences and Education, 2(1).
Tekkurşun Demir, G., Hazar, Z., & Cicioğlu, H. İ. (2018). Exercise Addiction Scale (EAS): A Validity and Reliability Study. Kastamonu Education Journal, 26(3), 865–874. https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.413383
Ünübol, H., Koç, A. Ş., Sayar, G. H., Stavropoulos, V., Kircaburun, K., & Griffiths, M. D. (2020). Measurement, profiles, prevalence, and psychological risk factors of problematic gaming among the Turkish community: a large-scale national study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, vol. 19, pp. 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00254-8
Wack, E., & Tantleff-Dunn, S. (2009). Relationships between electronic game play, obesity, and psychosocial functioning in young men. Cyberpsychology & Behaviour, 12(2), 241–244. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2008.0151
Yen, J. Y., Yen, C. F., Chen, C. S., Wang, P. W., Chang, Y. H., & Ko, C. H. (2012). Social anxiety in online and real-life interactions and their associated factors. Cyberpsychology, Behaviour and Social Networking, 15(1), pp. 7–12. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2011.0015
Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2013). Qualitative research methods in the social sciences. (9th expanded edition). Ankara: Seçkin Publishing House.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v4i2.282
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 İhsan Yağcı, Cüneyt Seydioğlu, Umut Davut Başoğlu
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright © 2019 - 2026. European Journal of Public Health Studies (ISSN 2668-1056/ISSN-L 2668-1056) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library. All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and standards formulated by Budapest Open Access Initiative (2002), the Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing (2003) and Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities (2003) and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Copyrights of the published research works are retained by authors.
