Daily digital gaming, weekly training duration, and perceived fatigue in athletes: indirect statistical associations involving digital game addiction awareness
10 affiliations
- 1Department of Software Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Istanbul Gelişim University
- 2Faculty of Sport Sciences, Istanbul Gelisim University
- 3School of Physical Education and Sports, Siirt University
- 4Department of Physical Education and Sports Teaching, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Firat University
- 5Department of Knowledge Management, Besni Ali Erdemoğlu Vocational School, Adıyaman University
- 6Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Bursa Technical University
- 7Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Istanbul Topkapı University
- 8Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Haliç University
- 9Red and River Digital Publishing and Trade Limited Company
- 10Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Hitit University
Abstract
Introduction: Digital gaming is a common leisure activity among athletes, yet its associations with weekly training duration and perceived fatigue remain insufficiently understood. This study examined the direct and indirect associations among daily digital gaming duration, weekly training duration, digital game addiction awareness, and perceived physical and cognitive fatigue.
Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with 587 adult athletes from team and individual sports in Istanbul, Türkiye. Data were collected using the Awareness of Digital Game Addiction Scale and the Scale of Physical and Cognitive Fatigue Perceived. Structural equation modeling with bias-corrected bootstrapping was performed.
Results: Daily digital gaming duration (β = .41, p < .001) and weekly training duration (β = .24, p < .001) were positively associated with digital game addiction awareness, which was associated with perceived physical fatigue (β = .32, p < .001) and cognitive fatigue (β = .38, p < .001). Significant indirect associations involving digital game addiction awareness were observed for both gaming and training duration within the specified model. The model showed acceptable fit (χ ² (4) = 9.64, CFI = .95, RMSEA = .049, SRMR = .041).
Discussion: The findings indicate significant concurrent associations among the study variables. However, given the cross-sectional design, the indirect associations should not be interpreted as evidence of temporal or causal mediation.
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BibTeX
@article{kılıckaya2026daily,
title = {{Daily digital gaming, weekly training duration, and perceived fatigue in athletes: indirect statistical associations involving digital game addiction awareness}},
author = {Okan Kılıçkaya and Yunus Şahinler and Buşra Özcan and Çetin Tan and Önder Şanlı and Melda Sunay and Sabri Can Metin and İsmail Belli and Faik Öz and Levent Ceylan},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1945442},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1945442/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Daily digital gaming, weekly training duration, and perceived fatigue in athletes: indirect statistical associations involving digital game addiction awareness
AU - Okan Kılıçkaya
AU - Yunus Şahinler
AU - Buşra Özcan
AU - Çetin Tan
AU - Önder Şanlı
AU - Melda Sunay
AU - Sabri Can Metin
AU - İsmail Belli
AU - Faik Öz
AU - Levent Ceylan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1945442
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1945442/full
AB - Introduction: Digital gaming is a common leisure activity among athletes, yet its associations with weekly training duration and perceived fatigue remain insufficiently understood. This study examined the direct and indirect associations among daily digital gaming duration, weekly training duration, digital game addiction awareness, and perceived physical and cognitive fatigue. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with 587 adult athletes from team and individual sports in Istanbul, Türkiye. Data were collected using the Awareness of Digital Game Addiction Scale and the Scale of Physical and Cognitive Fatigue Perceived. Structural equation modeling with bias-corrected bootstrapping was performed. Results: Daily digital gaming duration (β = .41, p < .001) and weekly training duration (β = .24, p < .001) were positively associated with digital game addiction awareness, which was associated with perceived physical fatigue (β = .32, p < .001) and cognitive fatigue (β = .38, p < .001). Significant indirect associations involving digital game addiction awareness were observed for both gaming and training duration within the specified model. The model showed acceptable fit (χ ² (4) = 9.64, CFI = .95, RMSEA = .049, SRMR = .041). Discussion: The findings indicate significant concurrent associations among the study variables. However, given the cross-sectional design, the indirect associations should not be interpreted as evidence of temporal or causal mediation.
SN - 1664-0640
ER -