Effect of Games Including Physical Activity on Digital Game Addiction of 11-14 Age Group Middle-School Students

Abstract

In this study, it was investigated that effect of games including physical activity on digital game addiction of 11-14 age group middle-school students. Along with the determination of digital game addiction, conducting applied experimental study is important regarding showing results of application with theoretical knowledge towards solving problem. Within this framework, it was thought that “games including physical activity” will be important tool for decreasing the level of digital game addiction. Experimental Design method was used in the study in which was adopted Quantitative Research model. When 11-14 age group students who addicted digital games consisted of the population of the study, the sample of the study consisted of 29 girls and 51 boys who have studied. In the study, personal information form and digital game addiction scale that was developed by the researcher were used as measurement tools. During data collection period, by accepting applied pre-test to students as criterion sample process, students who have high addiction level (total scale score is 49 and above) were detected and control (n = 40) and experimental (n = 40) groups were created with unbiased assignment method. After the 12-weeks period “games including physical activity” training, the data which was collected from the control and experimental groups by taking post-test data was evaluated with SPSS 20 packaged software. It was found that there was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test of both sub-dimensions and total addiction scores and post-test scores were lower than pre-test scores. It was shown that post-test addiction scores were significantly higher than pre-test addiction scores in control group. When investigating post-test addiction scores of control and experiment groups, it was shown that addiction level of experimental group significantly decrease comparing control group. It was determined that pre-test/post-test scores of experimental group students did not show significant differences in terms of gender, age, education level of mothers, education level of fathers, number of siblings. It was also found that pre-test/post-test addiction scores of experimental and control groups showed significant differences regarding playing digital game duration. When playing digital game duration decreased in experimental group, playing game duration increased in control group. Therefore, it was concluded that addiction levels of students who are digital game addict decreased because of interesting games including physical activity. As a result; physical moving games and sports can be said to be an important tool in dealing with digital game addiction. It can also be said that an important way to protect children from such addictions is to do sports.