From digital escape to memory impairment: The mediating role of digital dementia in the effect of digital fugue on digital amnesia

Aim This study aimed to analyse the mediating role of digital dementia in the relationship between digital fugue and digital amnesia. Method The study sample consisted of students aged 18 and older who were enrolled at a state university in Turkey ( n = 394). Data were collected through face‐to‐face interviews using the following forms: ‘Personal Information Form’, ‘OPIZA Digital Fugue Scale’, ‘Digital Dementia Scale—Adult Form’ and ‘Digital Amnesia Scale—Adult Form’. Results The mean age of the participants was 21.17 ± 1.72 (min: 18, max: 30), 59.4% were female, and the daily internet usage time was 6.24 ± 2.43 h (min: 1, max: 18). The study findings revealed that digital fugue was a significant predictor of both digital dementia and digital amnesia, and digital dementia had a positive and substantial effect on digital amnesia ( p < .001). The findings also indicated a significant total effect of digital fugue on digital amnesia; however, the inclusion of digital dementia in the model reduced the direct effect but remained significant. According to the bootstrap analysis results, the study identified the indirect effect as statistically significant, and the confidence interval did not contain a ‘zero’ value. Conclusion The study concluded that digital dementia partly mediates the relationship between digital fugue and digital amnesia. These results indicate that digital escapism behaviours should be considered in conjunction with cognitive functions and memory processes.