The Relationship Between Digital Addiction and Leisure Management: An Example of University Students

In this study, it is aimed to examine individuals’ digital addiction and leisure management according to their demographic characteristics and to determine the relationship between these variables. The sample of the study consisted of 408 university students. The “Free Time Management Scale” and the “Digital Addiction Scale” were used as data collection tools, and independent t-test, ANOVA, and correlation analyses were employed. According to the results of the independent t-test, significant differences were found in favor of male participants in the “Scheduling” sub-dimension of Leisure Management Scale and in the “Gaming” sub-dimension of Digital Addiction Scale. ANOVA results revealed that, according to weekly electronic device usage duration, there was a significant difference in the “Goal Setting and Method” sub-dimension of Leisure Management Scale in favor of participants who used devices for 5 hours or less per week, and in the “Social Media” sub-dimension of Digital Addiction Scale in favor of participants who used devices for 16 hours or more per week. Based on participants’ daily leisure duration, a significant difference was found in the “Scheduling” sub-dimension of Leisure Management Scale in favor of individuals with 1 hour or less of daily leisure, and in the “Gaming” sub-dimension of Digital Addiction Scale in favor of individuals with 5 hours or more of daily leisure. Correlation analysis revealed relationships between sub-dimensions of both scales. Findings indicate a need to increase university students' awareness of digital addiction and leisure time management.