Researchers find a strong link between phone addiction and loneliness
| Jan 20, 2020, 12:48 IST
A new study warns students who use their digital devices for too long are at an increased risk of feeling more lonely and anxious. Researchers say it may also demotivate them to study. The study was conducted by a team of researchers that included those from the Swansea University in the U.K.
For the study, the team assessed close to285 students, who were part of degree courses related to health. The team made note of each participant's digital use, levels of anxiety, motivation, loneliness, and learning skills. The results showed internet addiction has a negative impact on students when it came to motivation.
The team also revealed this kind of addiction made students feel more lonely, which made studying for them more difficult. "These results suggest that students with high levels of internet addiction may be particularly at risk from lower motivations to study, and, hence, lower actual academic performance,"Phil Reed, study co-author from Swansea University,told a news portal.
The team hopes the findings highlight the need for a highly social educational environment where students can thrive. "Before we continue down a route of increasing digitisation of our academic environments, we have to pause to consider if this is actually going to bring about the results we want. This strategy might offer some opportunities, but it also contains risks that have not yet been fully assessed," Reed told a news portal.
The study's findings were originally published in the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning.
Picture Courtesy: Google Images
For the study, the team assessed close to285 students, who were part of degree courses related to health. The team made note of each participant's digital use, levels of anxiety, motivation, loneliness, and learning skills. The results showed internet addiction has a negative impact on students when it came to motivation.
The team also revealed this kind of addiction made students feel more lonely, which made studying for them more difficult. "These results suggest that students with high levels of internet addiction may be particularly at risk from lower motivations to study, and, hence, lower actual academic performance,"Phil Reed, study co-author from Swansea University,told a news portal.
The team hopes the findings highlight the need for a highly social educational environment where students can thrive. "Before we continue down a route of increasing digitisation of our academic environments, we have to pause to consider if this is actually going to bring about the results we want. This strategy might offer some opportunities, but it also contains risks that have not yet been fully assessed," Reed told a news portal.
The study's findings were originally published in the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning.
Picture Courtesy: Google Images