International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Article The Mediating Role of Gaming Disorder in the Effect of Narcissism on Happiness in Children Orhan Çevik 1 , Orhan Koçak 1,* , Mustafa Z. Younis 2 and Elif Çevik 3 1 Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul University—Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34500, Turkey;
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[email protected] Abstract: We aimed to determine the relationship between gaming disorder, narcissism, and hap- piness levels of children between the ages of 9 and 15. This study was based on the compensation theory. The sample consists of 461 boys who continue their education in public schools in Istanbul. In the study, a mixed research design, which nests qualitative data into quantitative, was used. In addition to the scales and sociodemographic form, the Draw-a-Person test was also used to better understand children’s inner world. According to the findings, there is a significant relationship between gaming disorder and narcissism and happiness levels in children. Accordingly, as narcissism increases in children, the gaming disorder level increases, and happiness decreases. We also found a mediation effect in the impact of narcissism on happiness through gaming disorder. According to the results, we think that the problem is not caused by the individual but by society. For a solution, we Citation: Çevik, O.; Koçak, O.; Younis, M.Z.; Çevik, E.