SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 13 Issue: 2

An Examination of Bullying Behaviors in Children in Relation to Problematic Media Use and Digital Game Addiction

Kevser Tozduman Yaralı(AYDIN ADNAN MENDERES ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-7765-0461
Sibel Şeker(AYDIN ADNAN MENDERES ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-8730-1786
Rabia Ceren Çavga(İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi)0009-0004-4236-183X
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-08-28
🏛️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)

Results: The results indicated that as the subscale of the Digital Game Addiction Scale for escapism increased, children’s tendency to be in the victim role and problematic media usage also increased.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Objectives: This study aimed to examine bullying behaviors in relation to problematic media use and digital game addiction among children.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 184 children aged 5–6 years, 184 parents, and six preschool teachers.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Results: The results indicated that as the subscale of the Digital Game Addiction Scale for escapism increased, children’s tendency to be in the victim role and problematic media usage also increased.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:peer bullying · digital literacy · preschool

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to examine bullying behaviors in relation to problematic media use and digital game addiction among children. The research employed a quantitative analytic cross-sectional design. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 184 children aged 5–6 years, 184 parents, and six preschool teachers. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Problematic Media Use Scale for Children, the Bullying and Victimization Behavior Assessment Form, and the Digital Game Addiction Tendency Scale. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 25.0. Results: The results indicated that as the subscale of the Digital Game Addiction Scale for escapism increased, children’s tendency to be in the victim role and problematic media usage also increased. A significant relationship was found between children in the passive-bully role and the life-immersion subscale of the Digital Game Addiction Scale. A strong association was demonstrated between the subscales of life dissociation from life, conflict, constant play, and life reflection on the Digital Game Addiction Scale and the scores on the Problematic Media Use Scale. In addition, digital game addiction and problematic media use were found to have predictive effects on children’s bullying behaviors. Conclusion: Developing intervention programs addressing digital game addiction and problematic media use during the preschool period is anticipated to serve as a preventive measure to reduce bullying behaviors.

🔖

Cite This Article

Yaralı, K. T., Şeker, S., Çavga, R. C. (2026). An Examination of Bullying Behaviors in Children in Relation to Problematic Media Use and Digital Game Addiction. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, Volume: 13 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.21020/husbfd.1826840

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (49)

  1. Ahmad, D., Mayilvahanam, S., Hassan, S. R. A., Ashaari, R. S., & Rameli, F. E. (2025). Screen exposure among preschool children: sociocultural impact. Asian Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences, (7)3, 247-26. https://doi.org/10.55057/ajress.2025.7.3.21
  2. Aksel, N. (2018). An investigation of the relationship between digital game addiction, self-control, and social tendencies among middle school students (Master’s thesis). Ordu University, Institute of Social Sciences, Türkiye.
  3. Alper, I. T. (2024). Digital media and mobilization in early childhood. In Mobile transformation: Media and Educational Practices, 145.
  4. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018). Children and media tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Posjećeno, 10, 2022.
  5. Bağcı-Çetin, B. B. (2023). The predictive role of digital game addiction tendencies on peer bullying behaviors among children aged 5–6. Hakkari Faculty of Education Journal, 2(2), 10-25.
  6. Benedetto, L., & Ingrassia, M. (2021). Digital parenting: Raising and protecting children in media world. In L. Benedetto & M. Ingrassia (Eds.), Parenting: Studies byan ecocultural and transactional perspective (pp. 127–148). IntechOpen.
  7. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32(7), 513–531. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.32.7.513
  8. Boz, C., & Dinç, M. (2023). Examination of game addiction studies conducted in Turkey: A systematic review study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1014621.
  9. Budak, K. S., & Işıkoğlu, N. (2022). Dijital oyun bağımlılık eğilimi ve ebeveyn rehberlik stratejileri ölçeklerinin geliştirilmesi. Ankara University Journal of Faculty of Educational Sciences (JFES), 55(3), 693-740.
  10. Butasım, F. (2024). The role of body image and internet addiction as predictors of peer bullying (Master’s thesis). İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Türkiye.
  11. Çavuş, S., Ayhan, B. ve Tuncer, M. (2016). Computer games and addiction: A field study on university students. Journal of Communication Theory and Research, 43, 266.
  12. Çevik, Ö., Ata, R., & Çevik, M. (2021). Bullying and victimization among Turkish adolescents: the predictive role of problematic internet use, school burnout and parental monitoring. Education and Information Technologies, 26(3), 3203-3230.
  13. Coyne, S. M., Shawcroft, J., Gale, M., Gentile, D. A., Etherington, J. T., Holmgren, H., & Stockdale, L. (2021). Tantrums, toddlers and technology: Temperament, media emotion regulation, and problematic media use in early childhood. Computers in Human Behavior, 120, 106762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106762
  14. Cox, R., Skouteris, H., Rutherford, L., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., & Hardy, L. L. (2012). Television viewing, television content, food intake, physical activity and body mass index: A crosssectional study of preschool children aged 2-6 years. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 23(1), 58–62. https://doi.org/10.1071/HE12058
  15. Demirel, S. (2022). The relationships between technology addiction, problem-solving skills, peer bullying, and social anxiety among primary school students (Master’s thesis). Marmara University, Türkiye.
  16. Domoff, S. E., Borgen, A. L., & Radesky, J. S. (2020). Interactional theory of childhood problematic media use. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2(4), 343-353. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.217
  17. Dursun, A., & Çapan, B. E. (2018). Digital game addiction and psychological needs in adolescents. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education, 19(2), 128-140.
  18. Haidt, J. (2024). The anxious generation (S. S. Tezcan, Trans.). Pegasus.
  19. Hazar, Z., & Ekici, F. (2021). The relationship between digital game addiction and bullying cognitions among middle school students. Gazi Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, 26(1), 1-15.
  20. Hidayat, Z., Permatasari, C. B., & Mani, L. A. (2022). Cyber violence and bullying in online game addiction: A phenomenological study. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology, 100(5), 1428-1440.
  21. İpek, B., & Taştan, Z. (2025). The Effect of Game on Peer Bullying and Emotions in Physical Education and Game Lesson. Journal of Sport Sciences Research, 10(1), 124-145.
  22. Kanter, A. (2020). The effect of digital addiction on problem behaviors in preschool children. Researcher, 8(2), 207-221.
  23. Karasar, N. (2011). Scientific research methods. Nobel Publishing.
  24. Kılıç, K. M. (2019). Relationships among digital game addiction, bullying cognitions, and empathy levels in adolescents. İlköğretim Online, 18(2).
  25. Konca, A. S. (2022). Digital technology usage of young children: Screen time and families. Early Childhood Education Journal, 50(7), 1097-1108.
  26. Korkut, E. S., & Özyürek, A. (2023). The relationship between bully–victim behaviors and social skills in preschool children. Journal of Social Policy Studies, 23(58), 157-177.
  27. Li, C., Wang, P., Martin-Moratinos, M., Bella-Fernández, M., & Blasco-Fontecilla, H. (2024). Traditional bullying and cyberbullying in the digital age and its associated mental health problems in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(9), 2895-2909.
  28. Mitchell, K. J., Jones, L. M., & Wells, M. (2013). Testing the index of problematic online experiences (I-POE) with a national sample of adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 36(6), 1153-1163.
  29. Moral-García, J. E., Rusillo-Magdaleno, A., Patiño-Villada, F. A., & Martínez-López, E. J. (2025). Bullying and cyberbullying are associated with inappropriate use of the internet, cell phones, and video games in children and adolescents. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 15(5), 82.
  30. Mustafaoğlu, R., Zirek, E., Yasacı, Z. & Razak Özdinçler, A. (2018). Dijital teknoloji kullanımının çocukların gelişimi ve sağlığı üzerine olumsuz etkileri. Addicta: The Turkish Journal on Addiction, 5, 227–247.
  31. Navarro, J. L., & Tudge, J. R. H. (2023). Technologizing Bronfenbrenner: Neo-ecological theory. Current Psychology, 42(22), 19338–19354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02738-3
  32. Neumayer, F., Jantzer, V., Lerch, S., Resch, F., & Kaess, M. (2023). Traditional bullying and cyberbullying victimization independently predict changes in problematic internet gaming in a longitudinal sample. Journal of Adolescent Health, 73(2), 288-295.
  33. Nwanosike, C. L., Ujoatuonu, I. V., Kanu, G. C., Ike, O. O., & Okeke, T. J. (2022). Social bullying among undergraduates: the roles of internet gaming disorder, risk-taking behavior, and internet addiction. Frontiers In Psychology, 13, 830794.
  34. Öztürk, İ., & Traş, Z. (2024). Effects of an intervention program based on internet gaming disorder and emotion regulation on bullying behaviors. Addiction Journal, 25(4), 341-353.
  35. Özyürek, A., & Kurnaz, F. B. (2019). Zorba ve kurban çocuk davranışlarını değerlendirme formu: güvenilirliği ve geçerliliği. Mersin Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 15(1), 246-261.
  36. Park, J. H., & Park, M. (2021). Smartphone use patterns and problematic smartphone use among preschool children. PloS One, 16(3), e0244276.
  37. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. (2023). Technology addiction: A parent guide. [Technology addiction parent guide]. General Directorate of Health Services. https://sggm.saglik.gov.tr/TR-101322/teknoloji-bagimliligi-ebeveyn-rehberi-2023.html(open in a new window)
  38. Restrepo, A., Scheininger, T., Clucas, J., Alexander, L., Salum, G. A., Georgiades, K.,. & Milham, M. P. (2020). Problematic internet use in children and adolescents: associations with psychiatric disorders and impairment. BMC Psychiatry, 20, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02640-x
  39. Rosyati, T., Purwanto, M. R., Gumelar, G., Yulianti, R. T., & Mukharrom, T. (2020). Effects of games and how parents overcome addiction to children. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(1), 65-67.
  40. Selçuk, A. B. (2024). Raising healthy children in the digital age. Kronik Kitap.
  41. Şahin, S., & Turan, G. E. (2025). Peer relationships in preschool education in Türkiye: A systematic analysis. Academia Journal of Educational Research, 10(1), 32-44. https://doi.org/10.53506/egitim.1530691
  42. Tabachnick B. G., Fidell L. S. (2013) Using multivariate statistics, 6th ed. Boston, MA: Pearson.
  43. Taherian Kalati, A., & Kim, M. S. (2022). What is the effect of touchscreen technology on young children’s learning?: A systematic review. Education and Information Technologies, 27(5), 6893–6911. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10816-5
  44. Tanrıkulu, İ., Özdinç, N. K., & Besnili, Z. N. (2021). Peer bullying and school structure variables in early childhood. Erzincan University Journal of Education Faculty, 23(3), 857-873.
  45. Tozduman Yaralı, K. (2024). An examination of children's digital gaming habits and preferred games. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age, 10(1), 75-86.
  46. Tozduman Yaralı, K., & Kavruk, S. Z. (2026). The effect of digital parenting education on the digital parenting attitudes of parents of 3-5-year-old children with problematic technology use. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317107.2026.2612942
  47. Yan, Z. (2006). What influences children's and adolescents' understanding of the complexity of the Internet?. Developmental Psychology, 42(3), 418.
  48. Zhao, H., Li, X., Zhou, J., Nie, Q., & Zhou, J. (2020). The relationship between bullying victimization and online game addiction among Chinese early adolescents: The potential role of meaning in life and gender differences. Children and Youth Services Review, 116, 105261.
  49. Restrepo, A., Scheininger, T., Clucas, J., Alexander, L., Salum, G. A., Georgiades, K.,. & Milham, M. P. (2020). Problematic internet use in children and adolescents: associations with psychiatric disorders and impairment. BMC Psychiatry, 20, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02640-x