Parental Awareness of Digital Game Addiction: An Examination of Demographic Effects

Objective: This study aims to examine parental awareness of digital game addiction in relation to demographic variables.Method: The sample of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of 413 parents residing in the city center of Isparta who voluntarily agreed to participate in the research. Data were collected using the Digital Game Addiction Awareness Scale.Results: Among the participants, 87.9% demonstrated a high level of awareness, and 12.1% exhibited a moderate level. Mothers had significantly higher external awareness scores compared to fathers. Awareness levels were found to increase with higher levels of education. Teachers showed significantly higher internal awareness scores than healthcare professionals. The presence of a computer or tablet at home positively influenced internal awareness. No significant relationships were found between awareness levels and variables such as age, number of children, spouse’s occupation, or family structure.Conclusion: The findings indicate that parents in this sample reported high levels of awareness regarding digital game addiction. While this awareness may contribute to efforts aimed at preventing digital game addiction in children, the study did not assess children’s gaming behaviours; therefore, the findings should not be interpreted as evidence that parental awareness reduces children’s risk of digital game addiction, but rather as an indicator of parental awareness alone.