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Cited by 116Impact of Technology on AdolescentsChild Development and Digital TechnologyGender and Technology in Education

Young Adolescents' Digital Technology Use, Perceived Impairments, and Well-Being in a Representative Sample

Open access
George, Madeleine J., Jensen, Michaeline R., Russell, Michael A., Gassman-Pines, Anna, Copeland, William E., Hoyle, Rick H., Odgers, Candice L.·2020·The Journal of Pediatrics
DOI 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.12.002PMC PMC7570431
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Abstract

Objective. To examine the cross-sectional associations between young adolescents’ access, usage, and perceived impairments related to digital technologies and their academic, psychological, and physical wellbeing. Study design. 2,104 adolescents (ages 10–15 years), representative of the North Carolina Public School population, completed questionnaires in 2015. Administrative educational records were linked with parental consent. Results. Nearly all (95%) young adolescents had Internet access, 67% owned a mobile phone, and 68% had a social media account. Mobile phone ownership was not associated with any indicators of wellbeing (math and reading test scores, school belonging, psychological distress, conduct problems, or physical health) after controlling for demographic factors. Having a social media account and frequency of social media use were only robustly associated with conduct problems (explaining ~3% of the variation in conduct problems). Despite the lack of strong associations, 91% of adolescents reported at least one perceived technology-related impairment and 29% of adolescents reported online-to-offline spillover of negative experiences. Economically disadvantaged adolescents reported similar access, but greater online-to-offline spillover and stronger associations between social media account ownership and poor psychological wellbeing compared with their more affluent peers. Conclusions. At the population level, there was little evidence that digital technology access and usage is negatively associated with young adolescents’ wellbeing. Youth from economically disadvantaged families were equally likely to have access to digital technologies but were more likely than their more affluent peers to report negative online experiences. Closing the digital divide will require prioritizing equity in access, as well as in experiences and opportunities.

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  • Recent research suggests that the digital divide may not be as relevant to adolescents as to other populations, as access to smartphones is high across class groups.

    “Recent research suggests that the digital divide may not be as relevant to adolescents as to other populations (e.g., older adults), as access to smartphones is high across class groups (George et al., 2020).”

    From Technologizing Bronfenbrenner: Neo-ecological Theory. (2023) · cites this paper as George et al., 2020

    The Discussion (page not provided) says traditional gaps in access to the Internet and mobile phones have narrowed or disappeared among US adolescents, and the Results report similar mobile-phone ownership across economic groups. The paper does not compare adolescents with older adults or other populations, and it cautions that inequalities in online experiences may be emerging. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • Youth from more economically disadvantaged backgrounds were more likely to experience negative spillover between virtual and physical microsystems.

    “However, George et al. (2020) found that youth from more economically disadvantaged backgrounds were more likely to experience negative spillover between virtual and physical microsystems.”

    From Technologizing Bronfenbrenner: Neo-ecological Theory. (2023) · cites this paper as George et al., 2020

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [20]Young K, Internet addiction: Symptoms, evaluation, and treatment In Innovations in clinical practice, Van de Creek L. and Jackson T. (eds). 1999, 19– 31. Professional Resource Press: Sarasota, FL.

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Authors
George, M. J., Jensen, M. R., Russell, M. A., Gassman-Pines, A., Copeland, W. E., Hoyle, R. H., & Odgers, C. L.
Affiliations
  • Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro (US)
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
  • Duke University (US)
Corresponding author
George, Madeleine J.
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Pediatrics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-04
Volume
219
Pages
180-187
ISSN
0022-3476 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.12.002
PMC
PMC7570431
OpenAlex
W3006471631
Semantic Scholar
4d676501f8daff80459733797452cfbbfbe86eda
Cited by
104
References
25
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 1
FWCI
20.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Journal of Pediatrics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse Center
  • Jacobs Foundation
  • Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Technology in Education
Keywords
early adolescents, digital technology use, mobile phone ownership, social media use, conduct problems, psychological distress, school belonging, academic performance, economic disadvantage, digital divide, youth welfare
MeSH terms
Problem Behavior, Adolescent, Child, Child Welfare, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Internet, Cell Phone, Self Report, Social Media

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