Examination of Adolescents’ Digital Addiction Levels in Terms of Various Variables: The Case of Kırşehir

Introduction: This study aims to determine the levels of digital addiction among adolescents living in Kirsehir province and to examine whether these levels differ in terms of various variables.
Methods: The population of this descriptive, cross-sectional, and exploratory study conducted in multiple centers consisted of secondary school students attending a school in a province located in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form and the Digital Addiction Scale. Data analysis involved the use of the Independent Sample t-test, One-way analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis, and ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study.
Results: It was determined that 55% of adolescents with an average age of 12.88±0.51 were female. It was concluded that the mean total score on the Digital Addiction Scale for adolescents was 61.82±26.86, the mean total score on the Interpersonal Relationships subscale was 29.63±14.02, and the mean total score on the Introverted Factors subscale was 32.19±13.46. It was determined that “gender, family status, mother’s employment status, family income status, ownership of a game console, academic achievement, and activity status” had an effect on the Digital Addiction Scale for Children and sub-dimension total mean scores and that the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).
Discussion and Conclusion: It was concluded that adolescents’ levels of digital addiction are moderate and are influenced by factors such as “gender, family status, mother’s employment status, family income, ownership of a game console, academic achievement, and participation in activities.” Special support programs should be developed to improve adolescents’ levels of digital addiction.

Keywords: Adolescent; Behavioral addiction; Internet addiction; Smartphone addiction; Technology use