Digital Game Addiction and Empathy Levels in Primary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Mediation and Hierarchical Regression Analysis
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: Digital game addiction has emerged as a growing public health concern due to its potential implications for children’s psychosocial development. Empathy, a key component of socio-emotional functioning, may be associated with patterns of digital gaming; however, the nature of this relationship remains complex and may involve multiple interacting factors. This study aimed to examine the association between digital game addiction and empathy levels among primary school children and to investigate the potential mediating role of digital game addiction in the relationship between gender and empathy. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between April 15 and May 24, 2024, among 400 fourth-grade students in Mardin, Türkiye. A two-stage sampling approach was used, involving purposive selection of schools followed by random sampling of students within schools. Data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form, the Digital Game Addiction Scale for Children, and the Empathy Scale for Children and Adolescents. Analyses included non-parametric tests, Spearman correlation, hierarchical multiple regression, and mediation analysis with 5,000 bootstrap resamples. Results The mean digital game addiction score was 10.58 ± 4.61 (range: 6–30), indicating scores toward the lower end of the scale, while the mean empathy score was 14.41 ± 3.44 (range: 0–21), indicating relatively higher levels within the scale range. A moderate, negative, and statistically significant correlation was found between digital game addiction and empathy (r = − 0.328, p < 0.001). In regression analysis, digital game addiction emerged as the strongest predictor of empathy (β = −0.314, p < 0.001), explaining additional variance beyond sociodemographic factors (ΔR² = 0.092). Gender was also a significant predictor, with males showing higher addiction scores and lower empathy. Mediation analysis indicated that digital game addiction partially mediated the association between gender and empathy, accounting for 27.6% of the total effect. Conclusion Digital game addiction was significantly associated with lower empathy levels among children; however, given the cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted as associative rather than causal. The results suggest that digital gaming behaviours may represent one pathway linked to socio-emotional functioning, while also highlighting the potential influence of gender. Early identification of problematic gaming patterns may support interventions aimed at promoting healthy emotional development in children.
Source: Research Square
Institution: Mardin Artuklu University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225387610