Trajectories of digital flourishing in adolescence: The predictive roles of developmental changes and digital divide factors
Open accessAbstract
Digital flourishing refers to the positive perceptions of digital communication use in five dimensions: connectedness, positive social comparison, authentic self-presentation, civil participation, and self-control. This three-wave panel study among 1081 Slovenian adolescents (M age = 15.34 years, 53.8% boys, 80.7% ethnic majority) explored the trajectories of their digital flourishing dimensions over 1 year (2021–2022). Latent class growth analysis identified two classes. Adolescents in the first class reported high levels of digital flourishing, which remained stable over time, whereas those in the second class reported low levels of digital flourishing with decreased self-control over time. Autonomy-supportive restrictive, autonomy-supportive active, and controlling active parental mediation styles, together with high parental digital skills, predicted adolescents' belongingness to the (more digitally flourishing) first class.
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Open-ended, autonomy-supportive conversations with children about digital media are linked to lower likelihood of problematic internet use.
“Autonomy-supportive (providing choices and consistency) and open-ended discussions with children about digital media are associated with reduced likelihood of problematic internet use for children.60”
From Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Technical Report (2026) · cites this paper as [60]
The Discussion (page not available in our copy) reports that adolescents whose parents used more autonomy-supportive mediation were more likely to belong to a higher-digital-flourishing group. It does not report a reduced likelihood of problematic internet use, which is a different outcome. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredParenting approaches that are specific to teen digital media use also play a role in shaping digital media outcomes.
“Parenting approaches that are specific to teen digital media use also play a role in shaping digital media outcomes.60”
From Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Technical Report (2026) · cites this paper as [60]
Autonomy-supportive parenting is associated with digital flourishing for teens.
“Autonomy-supportive parenting is also associated with digital flourishing for teens60”
From Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Technical Report (2026) · cites this paper as [60]
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- Authors
- Rosič, J., Schreurs, L., Janicke-Bowles, S. H., & Vandenbosch, L.
- Affiliations
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Research Foundation - Flanders (BE)
- School of Communication Research, Chapman University , Orange, California ,
- Corresponding author
- Rosič, Jasmina
- Venue
- Child Development
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2024-09-01
- Volume
- 95
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1586-1602
- ISSN
- 0009-3920 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-8624
- OpenAlex
- W4394784507
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7
- FWCI
- 9.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- lirias.kuleuven.be
- Licence
- Locations
- Child Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lirias (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Chapman University Digital Commons (Chapman University) (submittedVersion)
- Document Server@UHasselt (UHasselt) (submittedVersion)
- OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council (852317)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Youth Development and Social Support
- Keywords
- adolescents, developmental trajectories, digital divide, self-control, social comparison, self-presentation, civil participation, sense of belonging, autonomy support, restrictive parenting, controlling parenting
- MeSH terms
- Self-Control, Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Female, Humans, Male, Slovenia, Personal Autonomy, Adolescent Development, Digital Divide
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