Digital Game Addiction Tendency and Social Competence in Preschool Children: The Mediating Role of Self-Regulation

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between digital game addiction tendency and social competence in preschool children and the mediating role of self-regulation skills in this relationship. The sample included 310 preschool children aged 4-6 years (150 girls and 160 boys) studying in three kindergartens in the city center of Aydın. Digital Game Addiction Tendency Scale, Self-Regulation Skills Scale for 4–6-Year-Old Children (Mother Form), Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation-30 Scale - Social Competence Subscale, and Personal Information Form were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation, and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data. The results of the Pearson product-moment correlation analysis showed that digital game addiction tendency was negatively correlated with self-regulation skills and social competence in preschool children. Moreover, the results indicated that there was a positive association between self-regulation skills and social competence in preschool children. The results of the structural equation model analysis revealed that digital game addiction tendency was directly related to self-regulation skills and indirectly related to social competence. Self-regulation skills have a full mediating role in the relationship between digital game addiction tendency and social competence. The research revealed the negative effects of digital game addiction on self-regulation skills which in turn affects social competence in preschool children. The results suggest that the effects of digital game addiction and self-regulation skills should be considered when assessing the social skills of preschool children.