Difficulties in Emotion Regulation as a Mediator and Gender as a Moderator in the Relationship Between Problematic Digital Gaming and Life Satisfaction Among Adolescents

Background: Problematic digital gaming has emerged as a significant behavioral concern among adolescents, with potential implications for well-being. Understanding the mechanisms through which problematic digital gaming affects life satisfaction and how these mechanisms may differ by gender is important for targeted interventions. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of difficulties in emotion regulation and the moderating role of gender in the relationship between problematic digital gaming and life satisfaction among adolescents. Method: The sample consisted of 458 Turkish adolescents (232 females, 50.7%) aged between 14 and 18 years (M = 16.27). Participants completed the Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents—Short Form, the Life Satisfaction Scale, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale—8. Results: Problematic digital gaming was found to have a significant negative association with life satisfaction. Difficulties in emotion regulation significantly mediated the relationship between problematic digital gaming and life satisfaction. Furthermore, gender moderated this mediation effect, with difficulties in emotion regulation being more pronounced among males than females. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of emotional regulation in understanding the negative impact of problematic digital gaming on adolescents’ life satisfaction, particularly among males. These results suggest the need for gender-sensitive approaches in interventions aimed at improving emotion regulation skills and reducing problematic gaming behavior.