Screen Addiction Among Adolescents: Assessing Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Development

Abstract

The prevalence of screen addiction among adolescents increasingly poses several cognitive, emotional, and social challenges. This is especially notable within the Islamic communities that are constantly developing and modernizing (particularly KSA). This cross-sectional and mixed-methods study examines how excessive screen use impacts adolescents aged 12 18, through both qualitative insights and quantitative assessments. 287 adolescents and 304 adults participated through surveys. Standardized and validated psychological scales were integrated into adolescent surveys, which include the Digital Addiction Scale for Teenagers (DAST), the PROMIS cognitive functioning scale, and the emotional and peer problems subscales of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Additional data included a brief account of academic performance and religiosity. Further subjective and detailed experiences were captured using semi-structured interviews and open-ended questions. Quantitative findings highlight a significant relationship between higher screen addiction and diminished attention, executive function, emotional regulation, and peer relations. Descriptive variables analysis pointed out that poor academic performance is somewhat associated with higher screen addiction. Thematic analysis also revealed the adverse effects of screen addiction on religious engagements. This research bridges several gaps and contributes positively to the existing corpus of literature by offering a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted effects of screen addiction on the core developmental areas among adolescents in a culturally sensitive approach. It also highlights the major role of parents, guardians, and teachers in guiding and supporting their children in Muslim societies. The findings from this study lay the foundation for developing effective culturally relevant interventions.