ERIC Number: EJ1373744
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Apr
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: EISSN-1939-0599
Longitudinal and Daily Associations between Adolescent Self-Control and Digital Technology Use
Burnell, Kaitlyn; Andrade, Fernanda C.; Hoyle, Rick H.
Developmental Psychology, v59 n4 p720-732 Apr 2023
There is fear that adolescents have limited control over their digital technology use. The current research examines longitudinal (Study 1) and daily (Study 2) associations between U.S. adolescents' self-control and digital technological impairment and use. Using a large sample (N = 2,104; Wave 1: M[subscript age] = 12.36, 52% female, 57% economically disadvantaged, 48% racial minority), Study 1 tested how changes in adolescents' self-control and perceived technological impairment co-occur across time (between-person associations) and if self-control and perceived impairment are prospectively and bidirectionally associated with each other (within-person associations). There was evidence of between-person associations, in that poorer self-control and perceived technological impairment both increase over adolescence, and these increases are positively associated with each other. However, there was no evidence of prospective within-person associations. Using a subsample from Study 1 (N = 388), Study 2 found support for a between-person association for self-control and using digital technology for entertainment, in which adolescents who reported poorer self-control relative to their peers also engaged in greater digital technology use for entertainment. There was no robust support for within-person associations. These findings suggest that adolescents with poorer self-control may have established tendencies to experience greater technological impairment and use more digital technology for entertainment, but the lack of within-person associations indicate caution is needed for a cause-and-effect relation. Adolescents with existing poorer self-control may be more vulnerable to problematic digital technology use in a developmental period where digital technology is particularly rewarding, and intervention and prevention efforts should be geared toward these adolescents.
Descriptors: Correlation, Adolescents, Self Control, Information Technology, Computer Use, Influence of Technology, Public Schools, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Elementary School Students, Intermediate Grades, Middle School Students, Inhibition, Handheld Devices, Internet, Gender Differences, Age Differences, Racial Differences, Socioeconomic Background, Social Media, Computer Mediated Communication, Student Attitudes, Leisure Time
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Grade 3; Primary Education; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades; Grade 5; Middle Schools; Grade 6; Junior High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (DHHS/PHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: P30DA023026
Data File: URL: https://osf.io/pkd9v/