Digital Dilemma: Exploring Screen Addiction and Its Effects on Youth Psychological Well-Being

Education

With the inescapable integration of digital screens into daily life, it is crucial to explore how multiple-screen addiction effects the psychological well-being of Adolescents, as excessive screen time may compromise mental health and overall student development. The present study aims to examine the effect of multiple-screen addiction on psychological well-being among Adolescents. The researcher selected 157 Adolescents of Aligarh district through random sampling technique. The psychological Well-Being Scale by Keyes (2002) and the Multiple Screen Addiction Scale developed by Sarıtepeci (2021) were used for collecting data. Percentage analysis and ANOVA techniques were used in the present study. Findings reveal that the majority of Adolescents exhibit moderate multiple-screen addiction, with psychological well-being significantly decreasing as addiction levels increase. Gender does not significantly impact addiction levels, while type of institute does, with semi-government school students showing higher addiction and lower well-being compared to government school students. Female students demonstrate better psychological well-being than males, and no significant interaction effects between gender and type of institute on either addiction or well-being were found. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to manage screen time and support mental health, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to promote holistic development in the digital era.

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