An investigation of university students’ internet and game addiction with respect to several variables

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether internet and game addiction of university students differ in regard to variables such as gender, grade, having computer and internet connection and game type which they prefer. The sample of this study consists of 996 students from Faculty of Educational Science at Ankara University and Education Faculty at Gazi University. In terms of gender variable, male students' internet and computer game addiction levels were significantly higher than females. It was found that there was no significant difference between internet and computer game addiction levels in terms of students' grade and game type variables. Students who have personal computers showed significantly higher levels of addiction to internet and computer game than those who don't have personal computers.The students who have internet connection showed significantly higher levels of addiction to internet and computer game than those who don't have internet connection in their homes. Keywords SUMMARY Purpose and Significance:In spite of the fact that computers provide convenience for people in many ways, their misuse may sometimes result in physiological and psychological damage on the users.Today people include computers in their lives to solve their questions easily.However, the over usage of them bring about internet and game addiction. Some researchers agreed that these types of addiction differentiate with gender, computer and internet ownership; on the other hand, some of the researchers disagree with this opinion. Because of the different findings in other culture research, this study aims to demonstrate whether game and internet addiction of university students vary according to specific variables such as gender, computer and internet ownership in Turkey.

Examination of the Levels of Digital Game Dependency of the Students of the Faculty of Sports

“…Male participants were found to have higher digital game addiction points averages than female participants. In a study similar to our study (Inal and Cağıltay, 2005;Cakır et al, 2011;Horzum, 2011;Sahin and Tugrul, 2012;Li and Wang, 2013) the average game addiction scores were higher in boys than girls.…”

Internet Addiction and Time Management Relationship in University Students

“…When it is tested whether internet addiction differs according to gender, it is concluded that male participants have higher internet addiction based on social problems than female participants. This result is supported by the literature (Shotton, 1991;Scherer & Bost, 1997;Chou & Hsiao, 2000;Morahan-Martin & Schumacher 2000, Vaizoğlu et al, 2004Kaltiala-Heino, Lintonen & Rimpela, 2004;Chou, Condron & Belland 2005;Ha, et al, 2007;Korkeila et al, 2010;Çakır, Ayas & Horzum, 2011;Li et al, 2013;Pawlikowski, Altstötter-Gleich & Brand, 2013). According to the results obtained in the research, male participants prefer to spend more time on the internet instead of going out with others.…”

“…İnternet bağımlılığının cinsiyete göre farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığı test edildiğinde erkek katılımcıların sosyal problemlere dayalı internet bağımlılıklarının kadın katılımcılara göre daha yüksek olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Bu sonuç literatür tarafından da desteklenmektedir (Shotton, 1991;Scherer & Bost, 1997;Chou & Hsiao, 2000;Morahan-Martin & Schumacher 2000, Vaizoğlu vd., 2004Kaltiala-Heino, Lintonen & Rimpela, 2004;Chou, Condron & Belland 2005;Ha, vd., 2007;Korkeila vd., 2010;Çakır, Ayas & Horzum, 2011;Li vd., 2013;Pawlikowski, Altstötter-Gleich & Brand, 2013). Cinsiyetler arasında fark bulunmadığını gösteren çalışmalar da mevcuttur (Brenner, 1997;Hall & Parsons, 2001;Subrahmanyam & Lin, 2007;Batıgün & Hasta, 2010).…”

Investigation of High School Students’ Cyberloafing Behaviors in Classes

“…Cinsiyet değişkeni gibi bireysel farklılıkların, bireyin teknoloji kabullerini ve teknoloji kullanımına yönelik niyetlerini açıklamak amacıyla ortaya çıkan ve birçok kuramsal modelin birleşimi olan Teknoloji Kabul ve Kullanım Birleştirilmiş Modeli-2 (UATAUT-2)'de (Venkatesh, Thong ve Xu, 2012) de cinsiyet değişkeninin ilişkileri düzenlemede önemli bir etken olduğu varsayımı ifade edildiğinden (Chang, 2012;Palau Saumell, Forgas Coll, Sanchez Garcia ve Robres, 2019;Yılmaz ve Kavanoz, 2017), bu sebeple öğrencilerin siberaylaklık davranışında bulunma durumları üzerinde cinsiyet etkisi araştırılmıştır. Cinsiyet etkisine yönelik elde edilen bulgunun ortaya çıkma sebebi, erkeklerin teknolojiye daha meraklı olmaları, akıllı telefonlarında birçok yeni uygulamayı kullanmaları ve internet bağımlılığı ve oyun bağımlılığı konusunda kızlara nazaran daha yatkın olmaları nedeniyle (Aljomaa vd., 2016;Çakır, Ayas ve Horzum, 2011;Griffiths, Kuss ve King, 2012;Oggins ve Sammis, 2012) siberaylaklık davranışında bulunma olasılıklarının da kızlara oranla daha yüksek olabileceği fikri ile açıklanabilir. Benzer şekilde alanyazında da birçok çalışmada, cinsiyetin siberaylaklık davranışı üzerinde önemli bir etkisinin olabildiği bulgusuna ulaşılmıştır (Ahmad ve Omar, 2017;Akbulut vd., 2017;Andreassen vd., 2014;Arabacı, 2017;Baturay ve Toker, 2015;Blanchard ve ve Henle, 2008;Garrett ve Danziger, 2008;Hayıt ve Dönmez, 2016;Keser vd., 2016;Lim ve Chen, 2012;Dursun vd., 2018;Vitak vd., 2011).…”