The Effect of Digital Addiction on Athletic Performance

The Effect of Digital Addiction on Athletic  Performance

İshak Gocer¹ , Muhammed Oniz^2*

¹School of Health Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye

²School of Health Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye

ABSTRACT

Background: In contemporary times, the utilization of digital devices is steadily on the rise. The frequented usage of online games and applications has now reached an addiction level, which has a detrimental effect on not only the family structure but also, indirectly, on the social construct. Such an addiction causes individuals to withdraw from society and social life, ultimately confining themselves to their digital worlds. In this study, we aim to investigate the impact of digital addiction on athletic performance and summarise the relevant findings from existing literature. It is anticipated that our results will increase awareness among sports scientists, coaches and trainers. To explore the topic, we conducted a comprehensive literature review on the connection between digital addiction and sports performance, drawing on relevant sources.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in academic databases for journals and conference proceedings. Relevant keywords such as 'technology addiction', 'digital addiction', 'sports performance', 'social media', 'online gaming' and 'technology' were used. By evaluating the literature, studies that investigated the impact of digital addiction on athletic performance were selected. The inclusion of 18 academic articles in this study was based on relevance and importance. The literature pertaining to our research subject matter was retrieved from electronic databases including TR Index, Google Scholar, and National Thesis Center. Subsequently, a detailed analysis of the chosen literature was conducted, elucidating commonalities, inconsistencies, and divergences amongst the studies.

Result: The study's findings demonstrate that digital addiction significantly impairs athletic performance. This highlights the adverse effects of digital device usage on athletic performance. Athletes experiencing digital addiction struggle to concentrate on their training and may become distracted. This highlights the adverse effects of digital device usage on athletic performance.

Conclusions: It is advisable that individuals restrict their use of digital technology, concentrate on adequate training and engage in physical recreation during their leisure time.