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Journals / Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 26 Sayı: 3

Predictors of Internet Gaming Disorder in Cultural Contexts: Turkish Families in the UK and Türkiye

İnternet Oyun Bozukluğunun Yordayıcıları ve Kültürel Bağlam: Türkiye ve Birleşik Krallık’taki Türk Aileler Üzerine Karşılaştırmalı Bir Analiz

Evren Morgül(University of Roehampton)0000-0002-3990-5881
Pages
1099–1113
Publication Date
2026-09-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

No significant group-level differences were observed in overall IGD symptom levels, suggesting a potential convergence in digital gaming behaviour despite differing cultural contexts.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has gained increasing attention as a global mental health concern, particularly among children and adolescents.
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Key Findings & Data:Specifically, we examine the roles of child emotional difficulties and parental mediation strategies (restrictive, active, and co-use) while controlling for sociodemographic variables such as parental education, employment status, child gender, and age.
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Conclusion & Impact:No significant group-level differences were observed in overall IGD symptom levels, suggesting a potential convergence in digital gaming behaviour despite differing cultural contexts.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:İnternet oyun bozukluğu · ebeveyn aracılığı · duygusal sorunlar

Abstract

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has gained increasing attention as a global mental health concern, particularly among children and adolescents. This study investigates the psychological and parenting-related predictors of IGD in two socioculturally distinct groups: Turkish families living in Türkiye and Turkish immigrant families living in the United Kingdom. Specifically, we examine the roles of child emotional difficulties and parental mediation strategies (restrictive, active, and co-use) while controlling for sociodemographic variables such as parental education, employment status, child gender, and age. The sample included 251 parents (NTürkiye= 133; NUK = 118) of children aged 9 to 16 years. Data were collected through online surveys. Hierarchical regression analyses re¬vealed that child emotional problems were the most robust predictor of IGD in both groups. However, active mediation was negatively associated with IGD only in the UK-based sample, while parental co-use was a positive predictor of IGD only in Türkiye. No significant group-level differences were observed in overall IGD symptom levels, suggesting a potential convergence in digital gaming behaviour despite differing cultural contexts. However, the parents living in the UK reported higher emotional difficulties in children, as well as higher mediation strategies. This finding emphasizes both universal and cultural factors that contribute to the development of IGD problems. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of migration-related dynamics when examining digital parenting practices. Therefore, developing culture-based interventions for improving children’s emotional regulation and parental involvement may play a crucial role in decreasing IGD risk across different sociocultural settings.

Özet

İnternet Oyun Bozukluğu (İOB), özellikle çocuklar ve ergenler arasında küresel ölçekte artan bir ruh sağlığı sorunu olarak dikkat çekmektedir. Bu çalışma, iki farklı sosyokültürel grupta, Türkiye’de yaşayan Türk aileler ile Birleşik Krallık’ta yaşayan göçmen Türk ailelerde, İOB’nin psikolojik ve ebeveynlikle ilişkili yordayıcılarını incelemektedir. Araştırmada çocukların duygusal sorunları ile ebeveynlerin dijital medya aracılığı stratejileri (kısıtlayıcı aracılık, aktif aracılık ve birlikte oyun oynama) ele alınmış; ebeveynin eğitim durumu, çalışma durumu, çocuğun cinsiyeti ve yaşı gibi sosyodemografik değişkenler kontrol edilmiştir. Yaşları 9 ile 16 arasında değişen çocuklara sahip 251 ebeveynden (NTürkiye = 133; NUK = 118) çevrim içi anket yoluyla veri toplanmıştır. Hiyerarşik regresyon analizleri, her iki grupta da çocukların duygusal problemlerinin İOB için en güçlü yordayıcı olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Bununla birlikte, Birleşik Krallık’taki örneklemde aktif ebeveyn aracılığı İOB ile negatif ilişki göstermiş; Türkiye’de ise dijital oyunların ebeveynle birlikte oynanmasının İOB’yi pozitif yönde yordadığı bulunmuştur. Genel İOB semptom düzeylerinde iki ülke grubu arasında anlamlı bir fark görülmemiştir; bu durum, farklı kültürel bağlamlara rağmen dijital oyun davranışlarında kültürler arası benzerlikler oluştuğuna işaret etmektedir. Ayrıca, Birleşik Krallık’taki ebeveynler çocuklarda daha fazla duygusal problem ve daha yüksek düzeyde ebeveyn aracı strateji kullanımı bildirmiştir. Bulgular, İOB’nin hem ortak hem de bağlama özgü mekanizmalarla şekillendiğini ortaya koymakta ve dijital ebeveynlikte göçle ilişkili etkilerin dikkate alınmasının önemini vurgulamaktadır. Duygusal düzenleme ve ebeveyn katılımını hedef alan kültürel açıdan hassas müdahaleler, farklı aile bağlamlarında İOB riskini azaltmada etkili olabilir.

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Cite This Article

Morgül, E. (2026). Predictors of Internet Gaming Disorder in Cultural Contexts: Turkish Families in the UK and Türkiye. Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, Cilt: 26 Sayı: 3, 1099–1113. https://doi.org/10.18037/ausbd.1735003

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