EFFECTS OF ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER TREATMENT ON INTERNET GAMING DISORDER, SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION, AND CYBERBULLYING IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Objective: There are many studies investigating the comorbidity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and internet gaming disorder and cyberbullying. However, there are few studies evaluating the effect of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment on them. This study's primary objective was to investigate the effects of attention-deficit/hyperactivity hisorder treatment on internet gaming disorder, social media addiction, and cyberbullying.Material and Methods: We recruited 76 subjects diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Forty children and adolescents between ages of 9 and 18 who were followed up with a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and received regular attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment were included in Group 1. Group 2 consisted of 36 children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder who were diagnosed for the first time. The participants were assessed using the internet gaming disorder Scale, Social Media Addiction Scale, and the Cyberbullying and Online Aggression Survey Instrument.Results: Internet gaming disorder was significantly more frequent in the untreated group than in the treatment-receiving group. However, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of social media addiction. When the groups were evaluated in terms of cyberbullying, no differences were observed between the groups.Conclusion: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms may play a role as an important risk factor of internet gaming disorder. Effective treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder may prevent the onset of internet gaming disorder.