The Relationship Between Digital Game Addiction and Sleepiness in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: The uncontrolled use of digital games for long periods of time may lead to changes in sleep patterns in children and adolescents. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between digital game addiction and sleepiness in adolescents. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 263 adolescents aged 12-18 years who were studying in three high schools in a district center in the Western Black Sea Region and who agreed to participate in the study. The study data were collected between March and May 2024 using the “Introductory Information Form”, “Digital Game Addiction Scale (DGAS)” and “Epworth Sleepiness Scale”. Results: The mean total score on the Digital Game Addiction Scale was 15.39 ± 6.10, while the mean total score on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale was 7.37 ± 4.42. As indicated by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, 30.0% of the adolescents exhibited symptoms of daytime sleepiness. A moderate positive correlation was observed between the Digital Game Addiction Scale and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores of adolescents (r = 0.400, p < 0.001). The odds of adolescents exhibiting daytime sleepiness were 51 times higher for those with higher mean total scores on the Digital Gaming Addiction Scale. The prevalence of daytime sleepiness was found to be 32 times higher in individuals who were sleep deprived due to digital gaming. Conclusion: It was determined that sleepiness was high in adolescents with high digital game addiction. Adolescents and parents should be informed about the negative effects of uncontrolled and excessive digital game playing on sleepiness in adolescents. Keywords: Addiction, digital gaming, adolescents, sleepiness