As predictives of digital game addiction in early childhood; digital parenting, family relations and social competence

In this study, it was aimed to determine the relationships between digital game addiction, digital parenting, intra-family relations, and social competence in early childhood. The research population consists of the parents of preschool children between 48–72 months old in Turkey. The convenient sampling method, one of the random variable sampling methods, was used in the study. To explain digital parent awareness, digital game addiction, social competence, relationships between parents, and the communication between parent and child in early childhood, the relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. According to the research findings, it was determined that digital parenting awareness direct and indirectly impressed positively the parent–child relationship and social competence in children while negatively digital game addiction. Also, digital parenting awareness directly affected wedlock positively and significantly level. The wedlock affected the parent–child relationship positively, digital game addiction negatively and significantly, and social competence positively and indirectly. Lastly, it was understood that social competence in children directly affects digital game addiction negatively at a significant level. It was concluded that digital game addiction, digital parenting, family relations, and social competence in early childhood have direct and/or indirect effects on each other.