Effects of a recreational exercise program on digital addiction and sleep quality in children

This study aimed to examine the effects of a structured recreational exercise program on digital addiction levels and sleep quality in children aged 10-14. A randomized controlled experimental design with repeated measures was employed. The sample consisted of 40 middle school students (20 girls and 20 boys), who were randomly assigned to a Recreational Exercise Group (REG, n = 20) or a Control Group (CG, n = 20). The intervention involved an 8-week recreational exercise program, including a 2-week adaptation phase followed by a 6-week main implementation period, conducted three times per week. Digital addiction and sleep quality were assessed at three time points-pre-test, post-test, and 6-week follow-up-using the Digital Addiction Scale for Adolescents and the Sleep Quality Scale and Sleep Variables Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using a 2 × 3 mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results revealed significant group × time interaction effects for both digital addiction and sleep quality (p < 0.01). Digital addiction levels in the REG decreased significantly from pre-test to post-test and remained stable at follow-up, whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group. Similarly, sleep quality improved significantly in the REG following the intervention, with the observed improvements maintained at follow-up. Effect size estimates indicated large effects for both outcomes. These findings suggest that regular participation in structured recreational exercise programs is an effective and sustainable approach for reducing digital addiction and improving sleep quality in children aged 10-14, highlighting the potential of school-based recreational interventions in early adolescence.