Digital game addiction, mindfulness, and phubbing among adolescents: a cross-sectional design.
Neslihan Köse-Kabakcıoğlu, Sultan Ayaz-Alkaya
European Journal of Pediatrics August 31, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-026-07370-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study with mediation analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,013 |
| Population | Turkish adolescents |
| Measures | Digital Game Addiction Scale, General Phubbing Scale in Adolescents, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale Adolescent Form |
| Topics | Addiction Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Cross-sectional studies Adolescent behavior Behavior, addictive Video games Turkey Female Surveys and questionnaires Internet addiction disorder Digital media Digital game Phubbing |
| Key findings | Higher digital game addiction was associated with higher phubbing, and higher mindfulness with lower phubbing. Mindfulness partially mediated the relationship between digital game addiction and phubbing. Several demographic and smartphone-use factors were also significantly related to phubbing. |
Abstract
This study was conducted to identify factors associated with phubbing and to investigate the mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between digital game addiction and phubbing. A cross-sectional design with mediation analysis was adopted. The study was completed with 2013 voluntary adolescents. The data were collected via paper questionnaires that included validated Turkish versions of the Digital Game Addiction Scale, General Phubbing Scale in Adolescents, and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale Adolescent Form. Associations were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Process Macro Model 4 was conducted to verify the mediating role. The study found an indirect mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between digital game addiction and phubbing. Sex, academic achievement, daily smartphone use, following social media, surfing on the internet, watching videos, taking photographs, doing homework, participation in social activities, digital game addiction, and mindfulness score were significantly related to phubbing. The study found that higher levels of digital game addiction were associated with a higher level of phubbing among adolescents. In contrast, higher levels of mindfulness were associated with a lower level of phubbing. Mindfulness had a partial mediating role in the relationship between digital game addiction and phubbing. This study highlights the importance of addressing factors associated with youth services to reduce phubbing and digital game addiction. Health professionals could consider mindfulness-focused interventions for at-risk adolescents for addressing these behaviors. What is known: • Digital game addiction can increase the likelihood of individuals exhibiting phubbing behavior during face-to-face interactions. • The interactive mechanisms between digital game addiction, phubbing, and mindfulness are not yet fully understood in adolescents. What is new: • Mindfulness partially inhibited the interaction between digital game addiction and phubbing. • Excessive smartphone use and the purposes of smartphone use were predictors of phubbing.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Online survey respondents | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | |
| The users of Novel Psychoactive Substances: Online survey about their characteristics, attitudes and motivations International users of novel psychoactive substances recruited via bluelight.org | 2016 | Cross-sectional online survey | n = 619 |
| User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study Users of hallucinogenic drugs who completed a web-based questionnaire | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 600 |
| Psychological and neuropsychological assessment of regular hoasca users. Regular hoasca users from a U.S. branch of União do Vegetal and matched non-user controls | 2016 | Cross-sectional study | n = 57 |
| Client and counselor attitudes toward the use of medications for treatment of opioid dependence. Counselors and clients from outpatient, methadone, and residential drug treatment programs | 2007 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 1,459 |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- Assessing adolescent mindfulness: Validation of an Adapted Mindful Attention Awareness Scale in adolescent normative and psychiatric populations. Psychological Assessment 2011