Determination of Digital Dependency Levels and Violence Tendencies of the High School Students

Aysel ARSLAN *1 1 Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Vocational School of Health, Sivas, Turkey, arslanaysel.58@gmail.com * Corresponding Author: arslanaysel.58@gmail.com Article Info Abstract In this study, digital dependence and violent tendencies of high school students are examined in terms of gender, class level, economic status, and parents’ education level. In the research, general screening model was used. The sample group of the study consists of a total of 776 students (428 girls and 348 boys) studying in seven different high schools located in different districts of Sivas province in the fall semester of 2019-2020 academic year. The data of the study was obtained by using the Digital Dependency Scale and Violence Tendency Scale. In the analysis of the data; Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S), arithmetic mean, standard deviation, independent t test, ANOVA, TUKEY, pearson correlation coefficient were used. Digital dependence of high school students on gender, economic status and maternal education level; There was a significant difference in the tendency of violence in terms of gender, mother and father education level variables p <.05; digital dependence and violence tendency correlation levels were found to be positive (r = .40). Received: 28 November 2019 Accepted: 5 January 2020


Introduction
It is seen that, technology is in every field of life especially the internet which enabling the general communication and developing for this reason the using of tools and equipment increases rapidly. In this direction, it is seen that the internet connection, digital tools and equipment make life easier for people. On the other hand, it is stated that besides the positive aspects of internet and digital tools and equipment, unwanted negative aspects also emerge. The most important of these negative situations is expressed as digital dependency. Although the person does not use any stuff, the habits causing negative behaviors observed in drug users are defined as behavioral dependence. Excessive desire to perform behaviors such as gambling, sex, eating, kleptomania, uncontrolled use of digital tools, using seamless social networking are considered as behavioral dependence.
Digital dependency, which is among the types of behavioral dependency, initially called internet addiction, as a result of the proliferation of tools and equipment that are connected to the internet and social platforms; it is divided into different categories such as smartphone, tablet, social media and game addiction. People who experience digital dependence constantly disrupt their communication with their environment because they prefer environments in which they can be alone and this person accepts a perception of virtual reality created by breaking away from real life. With the rapid spread of technology that can be connected to the internet network from anywhere with digital tools; connecting to social media from everywhere and from any environment, especially makes the children vulnerable to abuse. An important part of the games played in the digital environment contains violence and aggression. This situation, causes normalization of violence and aggression, on children and young people, playing these games. It is stated that the persons who shows individual violence behavior; these people have serious problems that they cannot solve especially during adolescence; they were not understood and supported by their family, school and environment and these people tend to violent acts as they are 88 excluded because of their negative attitudes and behaviors. In adolescents who experience digital depence; the tendency to violence is thought to be higher than people who not experience addiction. In this study, it is aimed to determine the level of digital dependence and, violence tendencies, relationship level and direction between of them, among the high school students. Digital dependence and violence tendencies of high school students; in terms of gender, class level, economic status, mother and father education variables, was examed.

Method
The sample of this study consists of 776 students who continue their education in seven different high schools where located in the central district of Sivas province in different education regions, in 2019-2020 academic year fall semester. Simple random sampling method, which is among the general screening models, was used. The data of the research; It was obtained by using; "Digital Dependency Scale" which developed by Arslan et al. (2015); and "Trends of Violence Scale" which developed by Haskan and Yıldırım (2012). SPSS 25.0 statistical program was used in the analysis of the obtained data. The data of the research; was obtained by using Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) Test, One-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA), independent groups t test, TUKEY analysis and Pearson Coefficient of Correlation test.
The digital dependence of the students was found to be moderate in the total scale and all the factors and it was determined that the violence tendency of the students was moderate in total score and all factors. According to the gender variable, it was determined that students' digital dependency, the mean score of the scale, the effect of daily life showed a significant difference against the male students and the game factor against the female students. The average score for the violent tendencies of the students; total score and all factors; It was determined that there is a significant difference against male students.
Students' levels of digital dependence and violence tendencies; in terms of class level variable; It was found that there was no significant difference in the total of the scale and all factors.

Result
In terms of students' economic status variable, the mean of digital dependence score; the total of the scale, game and daily life effect factors differ significantly; however, there was no significant difference in social media factor. It was found that there was no significant Arslan

Journal of Computer and Education Research
Year 2020 Volume 8 Issue 15  89 difference on the tendency of violence, the variables of economic status in the total scale and all the factors, on the mean scores of the students. When the findings of the analysis of the students' digital dependency according to the variables of mother's educational status were examined; in the meaning of total scale, in terms of game and social media factors; It was determined that no significant difference but it was determined that there is a significant difference in the meaning of effect on daily life. The average score of students' violence tendency scale; in the meaning of total scale, violence with information technologies, violence against others; It was determined that were significant differences but it was found that there was no significant difference in feelings of violence and thought of harm to others.
Digital dependence of the students in terms of father education status variable; It was found that there was no significant difference in terms of total scale and all factors. It was found that the mean scores of students' violent tendencies showed significant differences in terms of the total scale and the factor of violence against others and there was no significant difference in terms of other factors. It is seen that there is a moderate positive correlation between digital addiction levels and violence tendencies of students in terms of total scores and total factors. These results were interpreted that students with increased levels of digital addiction; it can be interpreted that their tendency towards violence has also increased.

Conclusion
Academicians, teachers, families and persons should be well-informed and conscious about digital dependency; and it is necessary to establish an effective control mechanism to determine the harmful effects of social media and tools. Limit access to harmful content on social media and the effective application of deterrent penalties related to cyber-crime elements, are thought to be important for the future of children and youth. Specialized treatment centers need to be established for the treatment of people experiencing digital addiction, with the professionals. In cooperation with educational institutions and health institutions; public awareness on this issue is very important. Researchers are not only directed to the negative effects seen today; It is considered that it is important to carry out studies on the dangers that may arise in the future to taking preventive measures.