Internet gaming disorder and verbal communication skills: the predictive role of listening and speaking skills in internet gaming disorder

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of verbal communication skills, including speaking self-efficacy and different listening styles, on Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). In this context, it is considered that weak communication skills may increase the tendency towards digital games. Accordingly, the study investigates the predictive role of middle school students' verbal communication skills on IGD. METHOD: The study was conducted in April-May 2025 using a quantitative approach and the relational screening model, and 495 middle school students from a province in Türkiye participated in the study. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic Data Form, the Internet Gaming Disorder Questionnaire, the Internet Gaming Cognition Scale, the Listening Styles Profile - Revised Scale, and the Speaking Self-Efficacy Scale. For data analysis, Pearson correlation, partial correlation, group comparisons, hierarchical regression, and moderation analyses were utilized. The Benjamini-Hochberg False Discovery Rate (FDR) procedure was applied to control for Type I error inflation in correlation analyses. RESULTS: A significant negative correlation was found between IGD and speaking self-efficacy. Among the listening styles, relational and analytical listening were negatively correlated with IGD, whereas transactional listening was positively correlated. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that communication skills explained an additional 9.2% of variance in IGD beyond demographic factors. Speaking self-efficacy (β = -0.257, p < 0.001) and transactional listening (β = 0.134, p = 0.002) emerged as significant predictors. Gender and age showed significant differences in relation to IGD; male students were identified as being in a higher risk group. Moderation analyses indicated that these effects did not differ by gender. DISCUSSION: The findings revealed that verbal communication skills have an effect on IGD. It was understood that individuals with high speaking self-efficacy were less inclined towards digital games, while students with developed transactional listening skills were more open to social satisfaction in digital gaming environments. It is suggested that enhancing verbal communication skills may have a protective effect against IGD.