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Behind the Screen: The Effect of Social and Emotional Loneliness on Digital Game Addiction

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Title: Behind the Screen: The Effect of Social and Emotional Loneliness on Digital Game Addiction
Language: English
Authors: Enes Bal (ORCID 0000-0002-6426-9426), Sükrü Balci (ORCID 0000-0002-0477-0622)
Source: International Journal of Technology in Education. 2026 9(1):88-108.
Availability: International Society for Technology, Education, and Science. ISTES Organization, Monument, CO 80132. e-mail: istesorganization@gmail.com; e-mail: ijteoffice@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.ijte.net/index.php/ijte/about
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Psychological Patterns, Video Games, Addictive Behavior, College Students, Gender Differences, Handheld Devices, Telecommunications, Interpersonal Relationship, Affective Behavior, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Turkey
ISSN: 2689-2758
Abstract: Especially in recent years, digital game addiction has been rapidly increasing among children and adolescents and negatively affects the social skill development of individuals in adolescence. At this point, it is noteworthy that digital game addiction is more common among children and adolescents who experience social and emotional loneliness and that it may have serious consequences at an individual and societal level in the long term. This research was designed to reveal the effect of social and emotional loneliness on young people's digital game addiction. In the study where the quantitative research method was used, data were collected from 402 university students via face-to-face survey technique. The research results indicate that men have a higher level of digital game addiction than women. It was determined that as the frequency of participants installing digital games on their smart devices increased, there was an increase in their digital game addiction levels. Similarly, as the frequency of university students purchasing digital games increased, the increase in their digital game addictions manifested itself. An important finding of this research is that social, emotional familial and emotional romantic loneliness has a positive and significant effect on digital game addiction. It can also be said that the duration of playing digital games partially mediates the relationship between social and emotional loneliness and digital game addiction.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1494169
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Enes+Bal%22">Enes Bal</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6426-9426">0000-0002-6426-9426</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sükrü+Balci%22">Sükrü Balci</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0477-0622">0000-0002-0477-0622</externalLink>)
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  Data: International Society for Technology, Education, and Science. ISTES Organization, Monument, CO 80132. e-mail: istesorganization@gmail.com; e-mail: ijteoffice@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.ijte.net/index.php/ijte/about
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  Data: Especially in recent years, digital game addiction has been rapidly increasing among children and adolescents and negatively affects the social skill development of individuals in adolescence. At this point, it is noteworthy that digital game addiction is more common among children and adolescents who experience social and emotional loneliness and that it may have serious consequences at an individual and societal level in the long term. This research was designed to reveal the effect of social and emotional loneliness on young people's digital game addiction. In the study where the quantitative research method was used, data were collected from 402 university students via face-to-face survey technique. The research results indicate that men have a higher level of digital game addiction than women. It was determined that as the frequency of participants installing digital games on their smart devices increased, there was an increase in their digital game addiction levels. Similarly, as the frequency of university students purchasing digital games increased, the increase in their digital game addictions manifested itself. An important finding of this research is that social, emotional familial and emotional romantic loneliness has a positive and significant effect on digital game addiction. It can also be said that the duration of playing digital games partially mediates the relationship between social and emotional loneliness and digital game addiction.
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      – Text: English
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        StartPage: 88
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Video Games
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      – SubjectFull: Addictive Behavior
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      – SubjectFull: College Students
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      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Handheld Devices
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      – SubjectFull: Telecommunications
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      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Affective Behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Turkey
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