Examining the effect of digital parenting attitudes on digital game addiction

Kabadayı, Handan; Eyimaya, Aslıhan Öztürk

doi:10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2025-0059en

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE • Rev. esc. enferm. USP 59 • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2025-0059en linkcopy

Examining the effect of digital parenting attitudes on digital game addiction

Examinando o impacto das atitudes de parentalidade digital na dependência de jogos digitais

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of digital parenting attitudes on digital game addiction in middle school students. Nurses can provide support to parents and students to reduce the risk of digital game addiction in children.

Methods: Cross-sectional design was used in this study. The study was conducted in a middle school in X. The sample of the study consisted of 306 students and 306 parents. A “Personal Information Form,” the “Digital Parenting Attitude Scale,” and the “Digital Game Addiction Scale for Children” were used to collect data.

Results: The rate of playing digital games was 83% among the students, and 24,8% played digital games for an average of an hour a day. Parents’ mean score on the “Digital Parenting Attitude Scale” was 46,97 ± 6,27. Students’ mean score on the “Digital Game Addiction Scale” was 59,42 ± 19,39. When the students were evaluated according to their digital game addiction levels, it was determined that 14,4% of them were “addicted”, 2,6% were “highly addicted”, and 54,9% were in the “at-risk” group. No significant relationship was found between the scales (p > 0,05).

Conclusion: There was no significant correlation between scales. However, it was found that the majority of the students were digital game addicts or in the risk group. It is recommended that the necessary interventions be planned in cooperation with parents so that students can maintain healthy digital game playing behaviors and receive protective and preventive training to prevent digital game addiction.

DESCRIPTORS
Addiction; Digital; Game Addiction; Nurses; Parenting; Student

Scale and subscales	Min.	Max.	Mean	SD
Approval of effective use of digital media	10.00	30.00	22.88	3.54
Protection from digital media risks	12.00	30.00	24.09	3.70
Digital Parenting Attitude Scale	22.00	60.00	46.97	6.27

Scale and subscales	n	Min.	Max.	Mean	SD
Tolerance development during playtime and the value placed on play	306	7.00	35.00	18.99	5.97
Excessive focus on playing digital games and conflict	306	7.00	35.00	17.53	6.13
Postponement of individual and social duties/tasks	306	6.00	30.00	13.15	5.00
Psychological-physiological reflection of deprivation and immersion in play	306	4.00	20.00	9.75	3.57
Digital Game Addiction Scale for Children	306	24.00	120.00	59.42	19.39
Cut-off point distribution	n	%	–	–	–
Normal	12	3.9	–	–	–
Low risk	74	24.2	–	–	–
Risky	168	54.9	–	–	–
Addicted	44	14.4	–	–	–
Highly addicted	8	2.6	–	–	–

Sociodemographic characteristics		n (%)	Tolerance development during playtime and the value placed on play		Excessive focus on playing digital games and conflict		Postponement of individual and social duties/tasks		Psychological-physiological reflection of deprivation and immersion in play		DGASC
Sociodemographic characteristics		n (%)	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Mean	SD
Age	10	41 (13.4)	18.73	5.66	17.98	5.58	12.66	4.59	9.83	3.31	59.20	18.00
	11	61 (19.9)	18.28	5.06	16.87	5.42	11.97	3.77	9.26	3.29	56.38	16.36
	12	89 (29.1)	18.81	6.81	17.38	6.92	13.33	5.56	9.62	3.69	59.13	21.66
	13	76 (24.9)	19.24	5.72	17.83	6.08	13.58	5.23	9.95	3.80	60.59	19.55
	14	39 (12.7)	20.31	6.06	17.82	6.10	14.28	5.12	10.38	3.57	62.79	19.63
	Test and significance		F = 0.762 p = 0.551		F = 0.309 p = 0.872		F = 1.631 p = 0.166		F = 0.683 p = 0.604		F = 0.744 p = 0.563
Gender	Male	113 (36.9)	19.37	5.97	17.91	6.19	13.04	5.17	9.79	3.70	60.12	19.48
	Female	193 (63.1)	18.77	5.97	17.30	6.09	13.21	4.91	9.74	3.50	59.02	19.38
	Test and significance		t = 0.855 p = 0.393		t = 0.841 p = 0.401		t = -0.283 p = 0.777		t = 0.122 p = 0.903		t = 0.478 p = 0.633
Grade	5	83 (27.1)	18.83	5.75	17.80	5.95	12.54	4.62	9.75	3.50	58.92	18.80
	6	74 (24.2)	18.01	5.76	16.55	6.16	12.24	4.66	9.11	3.49	55.92	18.62
	7	79 (25.8)	19.11	6.37	17.66	6.20	13.37	5.19	9.75	3.59	59.89	19.98
	8	70 (22.9)	20.07	5.90	18.09	6.23	14.59	5.33	10.46	3.67	63.20	19.91
	Test and significance		F = 1.465 p = 0.224		F = 0.880 p = 0.452		F = 3.261 p = 0.022		F = 1.725 p = 0.162		F = 1.737 p = 0.159
Having a personal computer/tablet	Yes	113 (36.9)	18.69	5.66	17.36	5.71	13.04	4.83	9.35	3.20	58.44	18.04
	No	193 (63.1)	19.17	6.15	17.62	6.37	13.22	5.11	9.99	3.76	59.99	20.17
	Test and significance		t = −0.672 p = 0.502		t = −0.356 p = 0.722		t = −0.307 p = 0.759		t = −1.571 p = 0.117		t = −0.675 p = 0.500
Having a personal phone	Yes	82 (26.8)	17.99	5.89	16.78	5.87	12.94	4.75	9.10	3.35	56.80	18.57
	No	224 (73.2)	19.36	5.97	17.80	6.21	13.23	5.10	10.00	3.63	60.38	19.64
	Test and significance		t = −1.784 p = 0.075		t = −1.289 p = 0.198		t = −0.446 p = 0.656		t = −1.958 p = 0.051		t = −1.430 p = 0.154
Having internet connection at home	Yes	276 (90.2)	18.91	5.74	17.41	5.99	13.11	4.89	9.71	3.52	59.14	18.81
	No	30 (9.8)	19.70	7.81	18.63	7.28	13.50	6.01	10.17	4.06	62.00	24.32
	Test and significance		t = −0.536 p = 0.595		t = −1.042 p = 0.298		t = −0.403 p = 0.688		t = −0.665 p = 0.507		t = −0.766 p = 0.444
Status of playing digital games	Yes	254 (83.0)	18.91	5.83	17.37	6.00	13.04	4.89	9.65	3.47	58.96	18.81
	No	52 (17.0)	19.37	6.66	18.31	6.71	13.71	5.54	10.27	4.04	61.65	22.09
	Test and significance		t = −0.497 p = 0.620		t = −1.009 p = 0.314		t = −0.888 p = 0.375		t = −1.141 p = 0.255		t = −0.911 p = 0.363
The device on which digital games are played most	Computer/Tablet	174 (56.9)	18.89	5.52	17.41	5.77	13.02	4.77	9.76	3.44	59.09	18.19
	Mobile Phone	86 (28.1)	19.34	6.61	17.94	6.66	13.38	5.42	9.69	3.70	60.35	21.02
	Game Console	8 (2.6)	17.88	3.83	16.00	4.69	11.88	2.47	9.75	3.15	55.50	13.14
	None	38 (12.4)	18.92	6.86	17.42	6.85	13.47	5.54	9.87	4.04	59.68	22.34
	Test and significance		F = 0.208 p = 0.891		F = 0.318 p = 0.812		F = 0.324 p = 0.808		F = 0.024 p = 0.995		F = 0.193 p = 0.901
Daily digital game playing time	None	31 (10.1)	19.32	6.98	17.84	6.95	13.58	5.45	10.23	4.03	60.97	22.51
	0–15 minutes	17 (5.6)	19.59	6.96	18.29	7.46	13.82	6.76	9.59	4.57	61.29	25.24
	15–30 minutes	25 (8.2)	17.12	7.19	16.04	7.13	11.76	5.74	8.92	3.48	53.84	22.15
	30 minutes– 1 hour	50 (16.3)	18.50	6.34	17.30	6.64	13.40	5.38	9.56	3.75	58.76	21.02
	1 hour	76 (24.8)	19.32	4.91	17.84	5.31	13.29	4.53	10.07	3.42	60.51	16.66
	2 hours	64 (20.9)	18.97	5.87	16.98	6.12	12.73	4.72	9.67	3.69	58.36	18.98
	3 hours	27 (8.8)	18.41	3.65	17.44	4.01	12.63	3.41	9.52	2.55	58.00	12.16
	≥4 hours	16 (5.2)	21.69	7.51	19.94	6.56	14.88	5.33	10.19	3.10	66.69	20.92
	Test and significance		F = 0.973 p = 0.451		F = 0.720 p = 0.655		F = 0.751 p = 0.629		F = 0.431 p = 0.882		F = 0.754 p = 0.626
Absenteeism from school to play digital games	Yes	5 (1.6)	13.40	2.61	12.20	4.15	10.40	4.34	6.40	1.14	42.40	10.36
	No	301 (98.4)	19.08	5.96	17.61	6.12	13.20	5.01	9.81	3.57	59.70	19.39
	Test and significance		t = −2.124 p = 0.034		t = −1.969 p = 0.050		t = −1.241 p = 0.216		t = −6.203 p = 0.001		t = −1.988 p = 0.048
Whether the mother plays digital games	Yes	78 (25.5)	20.03	5.48	18.26	5.67	13.50	4.40	10.29	3.19	62.08	17.54
	No	228 (74.5)	18.64	6.10	17.28	6.27	13.03	5.20	9.57	3.68	58.51	19.94
	Test and significance		t = 1.782 p = 0.076		t = 1.220 p = 0.223		t = 0.715 p = 0.475		t = 1.551 p = 0.122		t = 1.403 p = 0.162
Whether the father plays digital games	Yes	87 (28.4)	18.60	5.76	16.74	5.24	12.39	4.03	9.43	3.29	57.15	16.75
	No	219 (71.6)	19.15	6.05	17.84	6.43	13.45	5.32	9.89	3.67	60.32	20.32
	Test and significance		t = −0.725 p = 0.469		t = −1.425 p = 0.155		t = −1.888 p = 0.060		t = −1.018 p = 0.309		t = −1.293 p = 0.197
Whether the mother or father is aware of the content of the digital games that the child plays	Yes	144 (47.1)	18.96	6.09	17.57	6.10	13.21	5.15	9.73	3.61	59.47	19.60
	No	162 (52.9)	19.02	5.87	17.49	6.18	13.10	4.89	9.78	3.54	59.38	19.27
	Test and significance		t = −0.088 p = 0.930		t = 0.116 p = 0.907		t = 0.191 p = 0.849		t = −0.119 p = 0.906		t = 0.037 p = 0.970
Whether the mother or father plays digital games with the child	Yes	44 (14.4)	19.95	5.49	18.27	5.96	13.66	5.39	10.43	3.66	62.32	19.44
	No	262 (85.6)	18.83	6.04	17.40	6.16	13.06	4.94	9.64	3.55	58.94	19.38
	Test and significance		t = 1.159 p = 0.247		t = 0.873 p = 0.383		t = 0.728 p = 0.467		t = 1.361 p = 0.174		t = 1.071 p = 0.285
Whether the mother or father supervises digital game playing	Yes	195 (63.7)	18.62	5.78	17.23	6.06	12.93	5.03	9.70	3.71	58.48	19.33
	No	111 (36.3)	19.65	6.26	18.05	6.25	13.53	4.95	9.85	3.33	61.07	19.48
	Test and significance		t = −1.459 p = 0.146		t = −1.118 p = 0.264		t = −1.006 p = 0.315		t = −0.339 p = 0.735		t = −1.124 p = 0.262
Considering yourself a digital game addict	Yes	6 (2.0)	21.33	9.79	19.00	8.07	14.83	6.82	9.00	2.97	64.17	25.90
	Partly	43 (14.0)	18.72	5.37	17.98	5.68	13.79	4.51	9.98	3.58	60.47	17.97
	No	257 (84.0)	18.98	5.97	17.42	6.17	13.00	5.04	9.74	3.59	59.14	19.53
	Test and significance		F = 0.505 p = 0.604		F = 0.330 p = 0.719		F = 0.801 p = 0.450		F = 0.220 p = 0.803		F = 0.268 p = 0.765

Sociodemographic characteristics		n (%)	Tolerance development during playtime and the value placed on play		Excessive focus on playing digital games and conflict		Postponement of individual and social duties/tasks		Psychological-physiological reflection of deprivation and immersion in play		DGASC
Sociodemographic characteristics		n (%)	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Mean	SD
Gender	Male	99 (32.4)	17.71	5.98	16.36	5.94	12.31	4.47	9.27	3.23	55.66	18.43
	Female	207 (67.6)	19.60	5.88	18.08	6.15	13.55	5.20	9.99	3.71	61.22	19.63
	Test and significance		t = −2.626 p = 0.009		t = −2.311 p = 0.021		t = -2.035 p = 0.043		t = -1.639 p = 0.102		t = -2.366 p = 0.019
Age	25–29	2 (0.7)	14.50	3.54	15.00	4.24	9.00	4.24	7.00	1.41	45.50	13.44
	30–34	65 (21.2)	20.74	5.79	19.52	5.82	14.25	5.01	10.86	3.42	65.37	18.89
	35–39	119 (38.9)	18.73	5.84	17.38	6.25	12.99	4.91	9.75	3.73	58.85	19.59
	40–44	73 (23.8)	18.51	6.05	16.70	6.11	13.00	5.26	9.25	3.47	57.45	19.37
	45–49	32 (10.5)	17.97	5.14	16.44	4.99	12.50	3.93	9.06	3.19	55.97	15.64
	49+	15 (4.9)	18.60	8.09	16.73	7.67	12.33	6.31	9.33	3.62	57.00	24.43
	Test and significance		F = 1.703 p = 0.134		F = 2.014 p = 0.077		F = 1.127 p = 0.346		F = 2.104 p = 0.065		F = 1.876 p = 0.098
Family type	Extended	31 (10.1)	18.65	5.90	16.94	5.43	12.29	3.22	9.58	3.49	57.45	16.81
	Core	265 (86.6)	19.03	5.95	17.61	6.18	13.25	5.13	9.78	3.57	59.67	19.57
	Broken	10 (3.3)	19.10	7.17	17.10	7.25	13.10	6.26	9.60	4.22	58.90	23.53
	Test and significance		F = 0.058 p = 0.944		F = 0.193 p = 0.825		F = 0.513 p = 0.599		F = 0.053 p = 0.948		F = 0.185 p = 0.832
Education	Non-literate	5 (1.6)	19.00	6.48	18.00	6.96	13.60	6.54	9.80	3.90	60.40	23.42
	Elementary school	46 (15.0)	19.80	5.08	17.54	5.30	13.46	3.87	9.59	3.36	60.39	15.83
	Middle school	57 (18.6)	19.30	6.18	17.91	6.67	13.05	5.35	9.89	3.48	60.16	20.42
	High school	119 (38.9)	18.71	6.29	17.34	6.29	13.13	4.95	9.81	3.80	58.97	20.14
	Undergraduate	75 (24.5)	18.57	5.87	17.59	6.16	13.05	5.55	9.68	3.54	58.89	20.10
	Postgraduate	4 (1.3)	21.50	5.57	15.75	0.50	13.00	2.16	9.50	1.00	59.75	2.99
	Test and significance		F = 0.466 p = 0.801		F = 0.141 p = 0.983		F = 0.053 p = 0.998		F = 0.053 p = 0.998		F = 0.065 p = 0.997
Number of children	1	62 (20.3)	18.42	6.07	17.71	6.17	12.60	5.34	9.71	3.80	58.44	20.21
	2	164 (53.6)	19.18	5.67	17.68	6.04	13.51	4.86	9.87	3.51	60.23	18.73
	3	57 (18.6)	18.39	7.03	16.44	6.86	12.63	5.43	9.40	3.87	56.86	22.01
	4	21 (6.9)	21.29	4.28	19.14	4.22	13.81	3.71	10.24	2.59	64.48	13.38
	≥5	2 (0.7)	14.00	5.66	13.50	6.36	9.00	4.24	7.00	1.41	43.50	17.68
	Test and significance		F = 1.466 p = 0.212		F = 1.070 p = 0.372		F = 0.985 p = 0.416		F = 0.571 p = 0.684		F = 1.055 p = 0.379
Economic level	Income < expenses	28 (9.2)	18.29	5.29	16.54	5.97	12.82	4.60	9.64	4.05	57.29	18.72
	Income = expenses	248 (81.0)	19.16	5.97	17.79	6.01	13.21	4.97	9.87	3.48	60.02	19.12
	Income > expenses	30 (9.8)	18.27	6.63	16.30	7.18	12.97	5.76	8.93	3.86	56.47	22.32
	Test and significance		F = 0.511 p = 0.600		F = 1.191 p = 0.305		F = 0.098 p = 0.907		F = 0.930 p = 0.396		F = 0.635 p = 0.531
Job	Housewife	145 (47.4)	19.62	5.91	18.10	6.32	13.70	5.40	10.03	3.73	61.45	20.14
	Civil servant	42 (13.7)	18.00	6.16	17.79	6.28	13.14	5.05	9.98	3.63	58.90	20.26
	Worker	31 (10.1)	8.97	5.49	6.52	5.30	2.42	3.61	9.87	3.28	57.77	5.62
	Self-employed	20 (6.5)	18.20	7.52	15.70	7.12	12.05	5.03	9.05	3.63	55.00	22.43
	Tradesman	17 (5.6)	17.82	5.73	17.35	6.08	12.76	5.09	9.88	4.37	57.82	20.09
	Private sector	35 (11.4)	18.54	4.88	17.09	5.52	12.66	4.75	8.94	3.13	57.23	17.28
	Other	16 (5.2)	19.13	7.38	17.06	5.76	12.44	3.88	9.00	2.16	57.63	17.63
	Test and significance		F = 0.659 p = 0.683		F = 0.702 p = 0.648		F = 0.690 p = 0.658		F = 0.724 p = 0.630		F = 0.591 p = 0.737
Frequency of using technological devices	Almost never	21 (6.9)	16.90	6.60	14.29	5.94	11.57	4.70	8.38	3.58	51.14	19.13
	Several times a month	5 (1.6)	22.60	5.68	24.20	5.07	19.20	4.97	13.20	2.68	79.20	17.57
	Several times a week	15 (4.9)	17.00	5.04	13.93	5.50	11.60	4.29	8.33	3.29	50.87	16.73
	Almost every day	233 (76.1)	19.24	5.99	17.87	6.10	13.27	5.07	9.91	3.59	60.28	19.51
	Almost always	32 (10.5)	18.94	5.49	17.78	5.42	13.13	4.37	9.66	3.22	59.50	17.26
	Test and significance		F = 1.629 p = 0.167		F = 4.650 p = 0.001		F = 2.808 p = 0.026		F = 2.712 p = 0.030		F = 3.191 p = 0.014
Competence in using technological tools	Very good	12 (3.9)	19.00	6.02	17.00	6.44	12.00	5.38	9.08	3.42	57.08	20.14
	Good	140 (45.8)	18.53	5.63	17.28	5.91	12.96	4.84	9.61	3.45	58.39	18.61
	Moderate	130 (42.5)	19.36	6.39	17.73	6.44	13.36	5.19	9.92	3.80	60.37	20.42
	Poor	21 (6.9)	20.00	5.54	18.48	5.97	13.76	5.18	9.95	3.38	62.19	19.34
	Incompetent	3 (1.0)	17.33	6.43	15.67	4.16	13.00	2.65	10.67	1.15	56.67	13.05
	Test and significance		F = 0.540 p = 0.706		F = 0.308 p = 0.873		F = 0.341 p = 0.850		F = 0.288 p = 0.885		F = 0.340 p = 0.851
Playing digital games	Yes	101 (33.0)	19.52	5.61	18.35	5.84	13.75	5.13	10.13	3.51	61.75	18.86
	No	205 (67.0)	18.73	6.13	17.12	6.24	12.85	4.92	9.57	3.59	58.27	19.60
	Test and significance		t = 1.100 p = 0.272		t = 1.648 p = 0.100		t = 1.481 p = 0.140		t = 1.481 p = 0.140		t = 1.479 p = 0.140
Average time spent playing digital games a day	None	203 (66.3)	18.77	6.15	17.17	6.27	12.87	4.95	9.59	3.61	58.39	19.69
	0–15 minutes	10 (3.3)	17.70	6.04	14.90	4.98	10.60	3.69	8.50	2.72	51.70	15.63
	15–30 minutes	20 (6.5)	19.90	6.33	18.40	7.76	14.50	6.18	10.15	4.15	62.95	22.97
	30 minutes–1 hour	33 (10.8)	19.36	5.86	18.82	5.78	14.06	5.25	10.45	3.46	62.70	19.55
	1 hour	18 (5.9)	19.83	3.47	18.67	3.56	13.50	3.03	10.00	3.18	62.00	11.45
	2 hours	16 (5.2)	20.69	5.61	19.38	5.29	14.19	5.00	11.19	3.37	65.44	18.26
	3 hours	4 (1.3)	17.75	8.06	16.75	6.65	15.00	7.75	8.50	3.42	58.00	25.10
	≥4 hours	2 (0.7)	14.00	2.83	13.00	5.66	11.00	7.07	6.50	0.71	44.50	16.26
	Test and significance		F = 0.647 p = 0.717		F = 1.091 p = 0.369		F = 1.072 p = 0.381		F = 1.150 p = 0.332		F = 0.974 p = 0.450
Average time the child spends playing digital games a day	None	38 (12.4)	16.53	6.72	14.74	6.42	10.84	4.84	8.42	3.98	50.53	21.04
	0–15 minutes	13 (4.2)	15.92	4.61	16.31	6.34	13.31	5.53	9.00	3.70	54.54	18.34
	15–30 minutes	18 (5.9)	18.78	7.90	16.67	7.59	12.89	6.32	9.06	4.08	57.39	24.72
	30 minutes–1 hour	54 (17.7)	19.76	5.67	18.80	5.79	13.65	5.19	10.50	3.54	62.70	18.92
	1 hour	79 (25.8)	19.22	5.28	17.77	5.34	13.16	3.99	9.97	2.87	60.13	16.16
	2 hours	66 (21.6)	19.85	5.66	18.55	6.06	13.82	5.24	10.12	3.78	62.33	19.58
	3 hours	24 (7.8)	20.08	5.94	17.04	6.24	13.71	5.16	9.88	3.83	60.71	19.91
	≥4 hours	14 (4.6)	18.64	6.95	17.07	7.25	13.50	5.53	8.93	3.34	58.14	21.32
	Test and significance		F = 1.920 p = 0.066		F = 1.932 p = 0.064		F = 1.478 p = 0.175		F = 1.548 p = 0.151		F = 1.792 p = 0.088

		Approval of effective use of digital media	Protection from digital media risks	DPAS
Tolerance development during playtime and the value placed on play	r	0.011	-0.097	-0.051
	p	0.844	0.089	0.372
Excessive focus on playing digital games and conflict	r	0.023	-0.074	-0.031
Excessive focus on playing digital games and conflict	p	0.693	0.197	0.591
Postponement of individual and social duties/tasks	r	0.003	-0.074	-0.042
Postponement of individual and social duties/tasks	p	0.958	0.194	0.461
Psychological-physiological reflection of deprivation and immersion in play	r	0.017	-0.077	-0.055
	p	0.773	0.182	0.342
DGASC	r	0.008	-0.087	-0.046
DGASC	p	0.884	0.131	0.418

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Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 419 , 05403-000 São Paulo - SP/ Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 11) 3061-7553, - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: reeusp@usp.br

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