Understanding Digital Game Addiction among 3-6 year-old children: The Role of Age and Social Spontaneity

ABSTRACTObjectives: This study aimed to identify the factors that predict among 3-6 year old children's tendency towards digital game addiction, with a specific focus on social spontaneity and parental age. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in June-July in 2024 with 223 volunteer parents of children aged 3–6 years in a province in the middle region of Turkey. Data were collected using the “Descriptive Information Form”, "Preschool Children's Digital Game Addiction Tendency Scale" (DGATS) and the "Children's Playfulness Scale for Children"(CPS). Results: The average age of the children was 4.79±1.03 years and 53.8% were girls. The average age of the mothers was 34.7±5.7 years. The average total score of the DGATS is 48.6±21.7, and the average score of the CPS is 89.6±17.1. Over half of children, 53.4%, had their own tablet or phone. Significant negative weak correlations were found between the DGATS and the CPS Score (r=-.23; p