Prevalence of digital technologies dependence among adolescents and its relationship with social connectedness and academic performance

Abstract

This research thesis is designed to examine the prevalence of digital technologies dependence of adolescents. Further, the study seeks to investigate the relationship between social connectedness and academic performance. A mixed method, two phase, research design was employed. The sample included 675 adolescents from government schools of Tri city (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula) studying in grade XI. The first phase of this study employed the use of DTD scale, SCS-R (Lee at al., 2001) and CGPA. The second phase identified 30 individuals (15 high digital technologies dependence and low social connectedness; 15 high digital technologies dependence and low academic performance) based on the tools used in phase 1. These participants took part in semi-structured interviews which were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of this study Phase 1 showcased that 71% of participants had a moderate level of digital technologies dependence, 25% had a low level of digital technologies dependence, and 4% had a high level of digital technologies dependence. The study further established that there is a negative correlation between digital technologies dependence and social connectedness. Also, there is a negative correlation between digital technologies dependence and academic performance. Phase 2 results identified two key themes associated with low Social Connectedness among adolescents with high levels of Digital Technologies Dependence were Positive Social Connection (sub-themes: Maintaining social relations and developing new social relations), and Negative Social Connection (sub-themes: Social Alienation, Social Comparison, and Conflicts). Two key themes associated with low Academic Performance among adolescents with high levels of Digital Technologies Dependence were Impact on Learning (sub-themes: Good for Learning and Bad for Learning), and Digital Distraction (sub-themes: Academic Distraction, Digital Anxiety, and Procrastination). newline