QUALITY OF LIFE AND DIGITAL GAME ADDICTION IN ADOLESCENTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A WEB-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of digital game addiction on the health-related quality of life of adolescents. Materials and Methods: The sample of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of 300 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 14. The study was carried out in Konya, located in the center of Turkey, between February and June 2021, when there were pandemic restrictions. Participants were recruited through the snowball sampling method using an online web-based platform. Data were collected with the Personal Information Form, Digital Game Addiction Scale for Children, and KIDSCREEN-27 Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results: The study revealed that the mean digital game addiction score of the adolescents was 53.32±20.84 and the majority (39.7%) were in the low-risk group for digital game addiction. A weak and moderate relationship was found between digital game addiction and the factors of the KIDSCREEN-27 Questionnaire and the time spent on digital gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic. Low psychological well-being, a bad school environment, young age, being a male, and spending higher amounts of time playing digital games during the pandemic were determined to be the predictors of digital game addiction (p<0.05). It was revealed that predictors explained 32% of digital game addiction. Conclusion: It was revealed that digital game addiction affects health-related quality of life, and digital game addiction is affected by some demographic characteristics, psychological well-being, and school environment.