Journals / Yükseköğretim Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 16 Sayı: 1

The Mediating Role of Nomophobia and the Moderating Role of Netlessphobia in the Effect of Digital Game Addiction on Fatigue Among University Students

Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Dijital Oyun Bağımlılığının Yorgunluk Üzerindeki Etkisinde Nomofobinin Aracı Rolü ve Netlessfobinin Düzenleyici Rolü

Sevil Çınar Özbay(Artvin Çoruh Üniversitesi ,Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi)0000-0002-9281-1614
Özkan Özbay(ARTVIN CORUH UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-7754-2594
Aysun Akçam(NECMETTIN ERBAKAN UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-9428-3942
Pages
11–21
Publication Date
2026-02-24
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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

Data were collected using the “Sociodemographic Characteristics Questionnaire,” the “Fırat Netlessphobia Scale,” the “Fırat Nomophobia Scale,” the “Digital Game Addiction Scale,” and the “Chalder Fatigue Scale.” Findings indicate that digital game addiction and nomophobia have a positive and significant effect on fatigue.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The increase in digital game addiction among university students can have significant effects on time management and psychological health within their learning processes.
📊
Key Findings & Data:This study examines the impact of digital game addiction on fatigue levels through nomophobia among students and explores how netlessphobia moderates this effect.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Data were collected using the “Sociodemographic Characteristics Questionnaire,” the “Fırat Netlessphobia Scale,” the “Fırat Nomophobia Scale,” the “Digital Game Addiction Scale,” and the “Chalder Fatigue Scale.” Findings indicate that digital game addiction and nomophobia have a positive and significant effect on fatigue.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Dijital Oyun Bağımlılığı · Nomofobi · Netlessfobi

Abstract

The increase in digital game addiction among university students can have significant effects on time management and psychological health within their learning processes. This study examines the impact of digital game addiction on fatigue levels through nomophobia among students and explores how netlessphobia moderates this effect. The study sample consists of 2,310 undergraduate students enrolled at a university. Data were collected using the “Sociodemographic Characteristics Questionnaire,” the “Fırat Netlessphobia Scale,” the “Fırat Nomophobia Scale,” the “Digital Game Addiction Scale,” and the “Chalder Fatigue Scale.” Findings indicate that digital game addiction and nomophobia have a positive and significant effect on fatigue. As levels of digital game addiction and nomophobia increase, students’ fatigue levels also rise. Furthermore, it was found that nomophobia plays a mediating role in the effect of digital game addiction on fatigue. The indirect effect of digital game addiction on fatigue through nomophobia was also found to be dependent on netlessphobia. Netlessphobia, in this context, plays a moderating role in the effect of digital game addiction on fatigue through nomophobia. The results underscore the importance of universities taking more active steps in promoting digital health education to mitigate the psychological anxieties associated with digital game addiction. Developing guidelines that encourage healthy boundaries for smartphone and internet usage in higher education could play a key role in enhancing students’ academic productivity and reducing the negative effects of digital addiction. Incorporating digital health education into university curricula can help students develop more conscious technology usage habits, potentially lowering levels of stress and fatigue related to digital addiction.

Özet

Üniversite öğrencilerinde dijital oyun bağımlılığının artışı, öğrenim süreçlerinde zaman yönetimi ve psikolojik sağlık üzerinde belirgin etkiler yaratabilmektedir. Bu çalışma, dijital oyun bağımlılığının öğrencilerde nomofobi aracılığıyla yorgunluk düzeyleri üzerindeki etkisini ve netlessfobinin bu etkiyi nasıl düzenlediğini incelemektedir. Araştırmanın evrenini bir üniversitede öğrenim gören 2,310 lisans öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Veri toplama aracı olarak “Sosyodemografik Özellikler Soru Formu”, “Fırat Netlessfobi Ölçeği”, “Fırat Nomofobi Ölçeği”, “Dijital Oyun Bağımlılığı Ölçeği” ve “Chalder Yorgunluk Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Bulgular, dijital oyun bağımlılığı ve nomofobinin yorgunluk üzerinde pozitif ve anlamlı bir etkiye sahip olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Dijital oyun bağımlılığı ve nomofobi seviyeleri arttıkça, öğrencilerin yorgunluk düzeyleri de artmaktadır. Ayrıca, dijital oyun bağımlılığının yorgunluk üzerindeki etkisinde nomofobinin aracı rol oynadığı tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca, dijital oyun bağımlılığının nomofobi aracılığıyla yorgunluk üzerindeki dolaylı etkisinin netlessfobiye bağlı olduğu saptanmıştır. Bununla birlikte, netlessfobi, dijital oyun bağımlılığının nomofobi aracılığıyla yorgunluk üzerindeki etkisini düzenleyici bir rol oynamaktadır. Sonuçlar, dijital oyun bağımlılığı ve ilişkili psikolojik kaygıların azaltılabilmesi için, üniversitelerin dijital sağlık eğitimi konusunda daha etkin adımlar atmasının önemine işaret etmektedir. Yükseköğretimde, akıllı telefon ve internet kullanımına yönelik sağlıklı sınırlar oluşturulmasını teşvik eden yönergelerin geliştirilmesi, öğrencilerin akademik verimliliğini artırmada ve dijital bağımlılıklardan kaynaklanan olumsuz etkileri azaltmada kilit bir rol oynayabilir. Üniversitelerin müfredatlarına dijital sağlık eğitimi eklemesi, öğrencilerin teknoloji kullanımına yönelik daha bilinçli alışkanlıklar geliştirmelerini sağlayarak, dijital bağımlılık kaynaklı stres ve yorgunluk düzeylerini düşürmede fayda sağlayabilir.

🔖

Cite This Article

Sarıkahya, S. D., Özbay, S. Ç., Özbay, Ö., Akçam, A. (2026). The Mediating Role of Nomophobia and the Moderating Role of Netlessphobia in the Effect of Digital Game Addiction on Fatigue Among University Students. Yükseköğretim Dergisi, Cilt: 16 Sayı: 1, 11–21. https://doi.org/10.53478/yuksekogretim.1553727

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (64)

  1. Adın, R. M. (2019). Chalder Yorgunluk Ölçeği’nin Türkçe’ye uyarlanması ve genç yetişkin bireylerde psikometrik özelliklerinin incelenmesi [Yüksek lisans tezi]. Hacettepe Üniversitesi.
  2. Al-Khlaiwi, T., & Meo, S. A. (2004). Association of mobile phone radiation with fatigue, headache, dizziness, tension and sleep disturbance in Saudi population. Saudi Medical Journal, 25(6), 732–736.
  3. Anand, N., Jain, P. A., Prabhu, S., Thomas, C., Bhat, A., Prathyusha, P. V, … Cherian, A. V. (2018). Internet use patterns, internet addiction, and psychological distress among engineering university students: A study from India. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 40(5), 458–467. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_135_18
  4. Anshari, M., Alas, Y., & Sulaiman, E. (2019). Smartphone addictions and nomophobia among youth. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 14(3), 242–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450128.2019.1614709
  5. Arpaci, I., Baloğlu, M., Özteke Kozan, H. İ., & Kesici, Ş. (2017). Individual differences in the relationship between attachment and nomophobia among college students: The mediating role of mindfulness. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(12), e404. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.8847
  6. Ayar, D., & Bektas, M. (2021). The effect of problematic internet use and digital game addiction in adolescents on nomophobia levels. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 14(2), 1081-1088.
  7. Bacaksiz, F. E., Tuna, R., & Alan, H. (2022). Nomophobia, netlessphobia, and fear of missing out in nursing students: A cross-sectional study in distance education. Nurse Education Today, 118, 105523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105523
  8. Bachleda, C., & Darhiri, L. (2018). Internet addiction and mental and physical fatigue. The International Technology Management Review, 7(1), 25–33. https://doi.org/10.2991/itmr.7.1.3
  9. Bener, A., Yildirim, E., Torun, P., Çatan, F., Bolat, E., Alıç, S., … Griffiths, M. D. (2019). Internet addiction, fatigue, and sleep problems among adolescent students: A large-scale study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 17(4), 959–969. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-018-9937-1
  10. Beranuy, M., Oberst, U., Carbonell, X., & Chamarro, A. (2009). Problematic Internet and mobile phone use and clinical symptoms in college students: The role of emotional intelligence. Computers in Human Behavior, 25(5), 1182–1187.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2009.03.001
  11. Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment (2nd ed.). Basic Books.
  12. Cha, S.-S., & Seo, B.-K. (2018). Smartphone use and smartphone addiction in middle school students in Korea: Prevalence, social networking service, and game use. Health Psychology Open, 5(1), 2055102918755046. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102918755046
  13. Chalder, T., Berelowitz, G., Pawlikowska, T., Watts, L., Wessely, S., Wright, D., & Wallace, E. P. (1993). Development of a fatigue scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 37(2), 147–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(93)90081-P
  14. Cheever, N. A., Rosen, L. D., Carrier, L. M., & Chavez, A. (2014). Out of sight is not out of mind: The impact of restricting wireless mobile device use on anxiety levels among low, moderate and high users. Computers in Human Behavior, 37, 290–297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.05.002
  15. Chotpitayasunondh, V., & Douglas, K. M. (2016). How “phubbing” becomes the norm: The antecedents and consequences of snubbing via smartphone. Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 9–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.05.018
  16. Davey, S., & Davey, A. (2014). Assessment of smartphone addiction in Indian adolescents: a mixed method study by systematic-review and meta-analysis approach. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 5(12), 1500–1511.
  17. DeVellis, R. F. (2014). Scale development: Theory and applications. Nobel Academic Publishing
  18. De Vries, J. D., van Hooff, M. L. M., Geurts, S. A. E., & Kompier, M. A. J. (2016). Exercise as an intervention to reduce study-related fatigue among university students: a two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. PloS One, 11(3), e0152137. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152137
  19. Dixit, S., Shukla, H., Bhagwat, A. K., Bindal, A., Goyal, A., Zaidi, A. K., & Shrivastava, A. (2010). A study to evaluate mobile phone dependence among students of a medical college and associated hospital of central India. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 35(2), 339–341 https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-0218.66878
  20. Dol, K. S. (2016). Fatigue and pain related to internet usage among university students. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 28(4), 1233–1237. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.28.1233
  21. Durak, H. Y. (2019). Investigation of nomophobia and smartphone addiction predictors among adolescents in Turkey: Demographic variables and academic performance. The Social Science Journal, 56(4), 492–517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2018.09.003
  22. Durak, H., & Seferoğlu, S. S. (2018). Ortaokul öğrencilerinin akilli telefon kullanimlari ve bağimlilik düzeyleriyle ilgili unsurlar. Eğitim Teknolojisi Kuram ve Uygulama, 8(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.17943/etku.288822
  23. Durmuş Sarıkahya, S., Akçam, A., Kanbay, Y., Özbay, Ö., & Çınar Özbay, S. (2024).Predictive effects of nomophobia, netlessphobia, and sleepiness on fatigue. Addicta: The Turkish Journal on Addictions, 11(1), 44-50. https://doi.org/10.5152/ADDICTA.2024.23082
  24. Enez, Ö. (2024). The effect of mobile phone attachment and extended self on nomophobia among university students: the mediating role of materialism. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 14(73), 153-170. https://doi.org/10.17066/tpdrd.1294345_1
  25. Gerr, F., Monteilh, C. P., & Marcus, M. (2006). Keyboard use and musculoskeletal outcomes among computer users. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 16, 259–271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-006-9037-0
  26. Gezgin, D. M., Cakir, O., & Yildirim, S. (2018). The relationship between levels of nomophobia prevalence and internet addiction among high school students: The factors influencing Nomophobia. International Journal of Research in Education and Science, 4(1), 215-225. https://doi.org/10.21890/ijres.383153
  27. Güney, B. (2017). Dijital bağımlılığın dijital kültüre dönüşmesi: Netlessfobi, e-Journal of New Media. 1(2), 207-213. https://doi.org/10.17932/IAU.EJNM.25480200.2017.1/2.207-213
  28. Günay, O., Öztürk, A., Arslantas, E., & Sevinc, N. (2018). Internet addiction and depression levels in Erciyes University students. Dusunen Adam-Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences, 31(1), 79-88. https://doi.org/10.5350/dajpn2018310108
  29. Haberlin, K. A., & Atkin, D. J. (2022). Mobile gaming and Internet addiction: When is playing no longer just fun and games?. Computers in Human Behavior, 126(2002), 106989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106989
  30. Hamutoglu, N. B., Gezgin, D. M., Sezen-Gultekin, G., & Gemikonakli, O. (2018). Relationship between nomophobia and fear of missing out among Turkish university students. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 13(4), 549–561.
  31. Healthy forecasts for the global mobile games market!. IG News. Retrieved July 24, 2020 from https://www.iggalaxy.com/news/healthy-forecasts-for-the-global-mobile-games-market
  32. IJmker, S., Huysmans, M. A., Blatter, B. M., van der Beek, A. J., van Mechelen, W., & Bongers, P. M. (2007). Should office workers spend fewer hours at their computer? A systematic review of the literature. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 64(4), 211–222.
  33. Jilisha, G., Venkatachalam, J., Menon, V., & Olickal, J. J. (2019). Nomophobia: A mixed-methods study on prevalence, associated factors, and perception among college students in Puducherry, India. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 41(6), 541–548. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_130_19
  34. Kanbay, Y., Akçam, A., Özbay, S. Ç., Özbay, Ö., & Fırat, M. (2022a). Developing Fırat Nomophobia Scale and investigating its psychometric properties. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 58, 2534–2541. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.13090
  35. Kanbay, Y., Fırat, M., Akçam, A., Çınar, S., & Özbay, Ö. (2022b). Development of Fırat Netlessphobia Scale and investigation of its psychometric properties. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 58, 1258–1266. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12924
  36. Kang, J.-H., & Chen, S.-C. (2009). Effects of an irregular bedtime schedule on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue among university students in Taiwan. BMC Public Health, 9(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-9-248
  37. Khan, M. M. (2008). Adverse effects of excessive mobile phone use. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 21(4), 289-293. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10001-008-0028-6
  38. Kim, S.-Y., & Koo, S.-J. (2016). Effect of duration of smartphone use on muscle fatigue and pain caused by forward head posture in adults. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 28(6), 1669–1672. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.28.1669
  39. Karasar, N. (2013). Scientific research methodology. Nobel Publishing.
  40. King ALS, Valença AM, Nardi AE (2010) Nomophobia: The mobile phone in panic disorder with agoraphobia reducing phobias or worsening of dependence? Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, 23(1), 52–54. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNN.0b013e3181b7eabc
  41. King, A. L. S., Valenca, A. M., Silva, A. C. O., Baczynski, T., Carvalho, M. R., & Nardi, A. E. (2013). Nomophobia: Dependency on virtual environments or social phobia?. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(1), 140-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.07.025
  42. Lee, Y. H., Ko, C. H., & Chou, C. (2015). Re-visiting Internet addiction among Taiwanese students: A cross-sectional comparison of students’ expectations, online gaming, and online social interaction. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 43, 589-599. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-014-9915-4
  43. Lee, A. R., Son, S.-M., & Kim, K. K. (2016). Information and communication technology overload and social networking service fatigue: A stress perspective. Computers in Human Behavior, 55, 51–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.08.011
  44. Lee, S., Choi, Y.-H., & Kim, J. (2017). Effects of the cervical flexion angle during smartphone use on muscle fatigue and pain in the cervical erector spinae and upper trapezius in normal adults in their 20s. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 29(5), 921–923. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.29.921
  45. Lemmens, J. S., Valkenburg, P. M., & Peter, J. (2009). Development and validation of a game addiction scale for adolescents. Media Psychology, 12(1), 77-95. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213260802669458
  46. Lekkas, D., Price, G. D., & Jacobson, N. C. (2022). Using smartphone app use and lagged-ensemble machine learning for the prediction of work fatigue and boredom. Computers in Human Behavior, 127, 107029.
  47. Liu, C.-H., Lin, S.-H., Pan, Y.-C., & Lin, Y.-H. (2016). Smartphone gaming and frequent use pattern associated with smartphone addiction. Medicine, 95(28): e4068. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000004068
  48. Männikkö, N., Billieux, J., & Kääriäinen, M. (2015). Problematic digital gaming behavior and its relation to the psychological, social and physical health of Finnish adolescents and young adults. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 4(4), 281–288. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.4.2015.040
  49. O’Dea, S. (2021). Percentage of U.S. adults who own a smartphone from 2011 to 2021. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/219865/percentage-of-us-adults-who-own-a-smartphone/
  50. Onal, O., Coban, B., Dogan, E., Akyol, M.H., Yalcinkaya, F.E., Kisioglu, A.N., & Uskun, E. (2023). Netlessphobia based on personality traits in university students. Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences, 4(2), 28-38.
  51. Özbay, S. Ç., Özbay, Ö., Akçam, A., & Kanbay, Y. (2023). Evaluation of factors strongly associated with nomophobia using structural equation modelling: A cross-sectional study. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2023.04.006
  52. Özbay, S. Ç., Sarıkahya, S. D., Özbay, Ö., Akçam, A., & Kanbay, Y. (2024). Nomofobinin dijital oyun bağımlılığı üzerindeki etkisinde cinsiyetin düzenleyicilik rolü. Bağımlılık Dergisi, 24(3), 325–333. https://doi.org/10.51982/bagimli.1166232
  53. Öztürk, U.C., 2015. “ Netlessfobia” stay in connection or not that is the all fear: Fear of being without internet and organızational reflections. Journal of International Social Research, 8(37), 629–638. https://doi. org/10.17719/jisr.20153710629.
  54. Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40(3), 879-891.
  55. Rodríguez-García, A. M., Moreno-Guerrero, A. J., & Lopez Belmonte, J. (2020). Nomophobia: An individual’s growing fear of being without a smartphone a systematic literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(2), 580. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020580
  56. Rosen, L. D., Carrier, L. M., & Cheever, N. A. (2013). Facebook and texting made me do it: Media-induced task-switching while studying. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 948-958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.12.001
  57. Sert, H., Taskin Yilmaz, F., Karakoc Kumsar, A., & Aygin, D. (2019). Effect of technology addiction on academic success and fatigue among Turkish university students. Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior, 7(1), 41–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/21641846.2019.1585598
  58. Thomée, S., Härenstam, A., & Hagberg, M. (2011). Mobile phone use and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression among young adults-a prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health, 11(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-66
  59. Wan, C. S., & Chiou, W. B. (2006). Why are adolescents addicted to online gaming? An interview study in Taiwan. Cyberpsychology & behavior, 9(6), 762-766. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.762
  60. Whelan, E., Islam, A. K. M. N., & Brooks, S. (2020). Is boredom proneness related to social media overload and fatigue? A stress–strain–outcome approach. Internet Research, 30(3), 869-887
  61. We Are Social (2024), Digital 2024: Turkey. https://omgiletisim.com/we-are-social-dijital-2024-global-raporu-yayinlandi/ Erişim Tarihi:01.12.2024
  62. Yayan, E. H., Düken, M. E., Dağ, Y. S., & Ulutaş, A. (2018). Examination of the relationship between nursing student’s internet and smartphone addictions. Journal of Human Sciences, 15(2), 1161–1171. https://doi.org/10.14687/jhs.v15i2.5247
  63. Yalçin Irmak, A., & Erdoğan, S. (2015). Dijital oyun bağımlılığı ölçeği türkçe formunun geçerliliği ve güvenilirliği. Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi, 16(S1), 10-19.
  64. Yildirim, C., & Correia, A.-P. (2015). Exploring the dimensions of nomophobia: Development and validation of a self-reported questionnaire. Computers in Human Behavior, 49, 130–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.02.059.