Compulsive digital use: the risk and link of loneliness among adolescents
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Muhammad S. Amran
,
Muhammad Z. Roslan
and
Werner Sommer
Abstract
Purpose of review
The current rise of digital technologies is causing adolescents to spend more time on their digital devices, especially since the lockdown period of the pandemic. Adolescents are among those who are affected by lifestyle changes and are at risk of digital addiction due to the overuse of digital technologies. This opinion paper discusses the possible risk of loneliness among adolescents due to the overuse of digital devices. In this article, we would like to propose the concept of digital abuse and its risk of loneliness, as well as discuss some proposed solutions by referring to recent statistics and research evidence to reduce digital abuse among adolescents.
Recent findings
Evidence from previous studies highlights the association between digital addiction and loneliness among adolescents. Overusing digital devices among adolescents is also associated with various physical and psychological side effects.
Summary
Recent findings support the rapid rise of digital device usage among adolescents and its contributions to digital use. More research is needed to support existing interventions, provide early screening, and combat digital addiction to protect adolescents from the risks of loneliness due to the overuse of digital devices.
Acknowledgments
Gabungan Profesional Usahawan Bumiputera Anak Selangor (GIBS) & Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
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Research ethics: The study was ethically approved by the Faculty of Education Research Ethics Committee from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
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Informed consent: There are no participants involved in this research.
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Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Competing interests: We have no conflicts of interest to disclose. All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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Research funding: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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Data availability: No new data was generated or analysed.
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© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
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- Improving young patient – practitioner communication about sexual health during medical visits
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- What about adolescents’ mental health after the pandemics? An analyses of a grade II hospital
- Suicide risk among adolescents in Sarawak, Malaysia: prevalence and determining factors
- Body image concern and demographic characteristics as predictors of anxiety in adolescent girls
- Letter to the Editor
- Compulsive digital use: the risk and link of loneliness among adolescents
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- A multifaceted approach to identifying and managing juvenile delinquency by integrating psycho-physiological indicators
- Original Articles
- Improving young patient – practitioner communication about sexual health during medical visits
- Effect of a context-specific health education intervention on knowledge of health risk behaviors among adolescents in Nigerian public and private secondary schools: a comparative study
- Development and validation of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health – Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy Questionnaires (ASRH-KASeQ)
- Effectiveness of an educational intervention on knowledge and practice of young midwifery college students about IUD and Pap smear, Babol, Iran
- Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding self-medication for acne among medical students in Beni-Suef University
- Comparing the quality of life of adolescent girls with and without polycystic ovary syndrome and identifying the predictor factors
- Prevalence and correlates of sexual intercourse under influence of alcohol among Thai adolescents: lessons from a nationwide school-based survey
- What about adolescents’ mental health after the pandemics? An analyses of a grade II hospital
- Suicide risk among adolescents in Sarawak, Malaysia: prevalence and determining factors
- Body image concern and demographic characteristics as predictors of anxiety in adolescent girls
- Letter to the Editor
- Compulsive digital use: the risk and link of loneliness among adolescents
