Do digital literacy, digital game addiction, and healthy lifestyle beliefs correlate in adolescents?

Abstract Background Digital game addiction among adolescents is an important public health problem that increasingly threatens their health and lifestyle habits compared with other age groups. Developing digital literacy skills can play a protective role in reducing the effects of this addiction and supporting healthy lifestyle behaviors. However, there is a gap in literature regarding the relationship between digital literacy, digital game addiction, and healthy lifestyle beliefs in adolescents. Objectives This study aims to evaluate the digital literacy levels, digital game addiction, and healthy lifestyle beliefs of adolescent students. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 938 students in three middle schools in one of the largest cities in Turkey. Data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form, Digital Gaming Addiction Scale for Children, Digital Literacy Scale, and Healthy Lifestyle Belief Scale for Adolescents between May-June 2024. Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyze the relationships between the factors (The model fit: X2/df: 3.31, CFI:0.846, NNFI: 0.835, IFI: 0.846, RNI: 0.846, RMSEA: 0.050, SRMR: 0.066, GFI: 0.963). Results The mean age of the students were 12.07±0.94 and 54.2% were female. The mean scores of the Digital Game Addiction, Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Digital Literacy were found as 15.60±5.32, 59.81±11.71 and 72.36±14.49, respectively. Adolescents’ high digital literacy levels had positive effects on digital game addiction (ß=0.049, p < 0.05) and healthy lifestyle behaviors (ß=0.262, p < 0.05). Adolescents’ high digital game addiction had negative effects on healthy lifestyle behaviors (ß=-0.481, p < 0.05). Conclusions Promoting non-digital gaming activities and social responsibility projects in schools can support adolescents to adopt a healthier lifestyle by improving their time management skills. Furthermore, it is of great importance to raise awareness among parents about digital literacy. Key messages • Digital game addiction negatively affects adolescents’ healthy lifestyle behaviors, revealing the need for school and family-based interventions. • Adolescents having high levels of digital literacy supports healthy lifestyle habits and can help reduce digital game addiction.