Relationships between Digital Game Addiction, Bullying Cognitions and Empathy Levels in Adolescents

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between empathy, bullying cognition and digital game addiction in adolescents and to determine whether there is a gender difference between these variables. The research is in relational screening model. The study group consisted of 240 randomly selected students from six secondary schools (sixth, seventh and eighth grade) students. “Inventory of Cognitions Related Bullying for Children”, “Digital Game Addiction Scale for Children” and “Empathy Scale for Children and Adolescents” were used in the study. ”. The data were analyzed by using T test for independent groups and The Pearson product-moment correlation analysis. As a result of the statistical analysis, it was found that children's empathy levels decreased as digital game addiction scores and bullying cognition level increased (p <0.01); As the level of digital game addiction increased, the level of
bullying cognition level was also increased (p <0.01). Empathy scores of girls were higher than boys (p <0.01); it was also observed that boys' scores of bullying cognition level and digital game addiction were higher than girls (p <0.01). Suggestions were made in the light of the findings.