Connected Yet Vulnerable: A Cross-Sectional Study on Digital Screen Use and Psychological Well-being among College Going Students

Abstract

A cross- sectional study was conducted using (N=29 participants) college going students from age 18-24 years with (Mean= 1.72, SD= 0.59) in Guwahati, Assam, India. The study uses purposive sampling technique and three standardized questionnaires have been administered Mobile use Screen Timing (MUST), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), The Realistic Optimism Scale (ROS) for understanding the relationship between digital screen usage (Smartphone), life satisfaction and realistic optimism across different age groups respectively considering the screen time of the participants. Data was collected using these questionnaire and computation was done using software SPSS version 26. Results revealed from the study that there does not exist any association between screen timing and life satisfaction along with realistic optimism. Whereas in a correlation analysis it has been found that the dimensions of mobile phone usage in screen timing namely cravings, consequences, coping and realistic optimism has been found positively correlated with each other. However, no correlation was found between life satisfaction and screen time dimensions. Overall, it can be concluded by the findings that age does not statistically significant in respect with screen timing nor with life satisfaction and realistic optimism. Also, none of the demographic characteristics statistically found significant. Future research can focus upon the underlying behavioral and psychological factors which determines screen timing patterns of the individuals.