Internet Gaming Disorder in Children and Associated Factors and Parents' Opinions.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine internet gaming disorder (IGD) prevalence in primary grade students and the associated factors and parents' opinions about their children's gaming habits.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 1, 2019, and June 1, 2019. In this study, 805 children's and parents' forms were analyzed. Participation rate was 94.5%. Data were collected using "Digital Gaming-Children's Form," "Digital Gaming-Parents' Form," and the "Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF)." Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and significance tests.

Results: The mean age of the students was 11.24 ± 1.243 years; 42.7% were male. The children's mean IGDS9-SF score was 16.83 ± 6.53. There were only 91 students with a score equal to or above the cutoff point of 36. The mean IGDS9-SF scores varied according to gender, grade level, family environment, and employment status of the father. Analysis of the students' gaming characteristics and mean IGDS9-SF scores showed that their mean IGDS9-SF scores varied depending on computer/phone/tablet gaming status, type of game played, type of connection, mode of connection, frequency of conflicts with parents, and whether families received help to regulate gaming behavior.

Conclusion: It is essential for a family to have information about games and talk to their children about the games they play to provide appropriate supervision. Providing families and children with counseling about digital games, IGD symptoms, and considerations by nurses during home visits can play an important role in preventing IGD.