Digital game addiction, anger and aggression among university students

Background and Study Aim. The increasing prevalence of digital games and their potential impact on mental health highlight the need to identify protective mechanisms against possible negative effects. This study aims to determine how gender, daily internet use, and age influence digital game addiction, anger expression styles, and aggression levels among university students. Material and Methods. The study included 1074 university students (429 women and 645 men) from various universities in Turkey. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Digital Game Addiction Scale, the Anger Expression Styles Questionnaire, and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Statistical analyses included Independent Samples t-tests, One-Way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation tests to examine the relationships between digital game addiction, anger, and aggression. The study followed ethical guidelines and was approved by the Ethics Committee of Selcuk University. Results. Male students demonstrated significantly higher levels of digital game addiction, aggression, and anger compared to female students (p < 0.05). Additionally, students with higher daily internet usage exhibited increased levels of digital game addiction, aggression, and anger (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found based on age. A positive correlation was observed between digital game addiction and anger expression styles (p < 0.05), suggesting that higher digital game addiction is associated with increased anger. Conclusions. The findings suggest that male students are more susceptible to digital game addiction, aggression, and anger than female students, and that increased daily internet usage exacerbates these issues. These results underscore the need for further research and targeted interventions to mitigate the negative effects of digital game addiction on mental health, particularly among young adults. Developing educational programs and preventive strategies may help reduce the risks associated with excessive digital gaming and internet use.