Volume 16, Issue 4 (Jul & Aug 2026)
J Research Health 2026, 16(4): 333-342 |
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Ethics code: 2025-54
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Üstündağ A, Erdem K, Bağiş A. The Relationship Between Digital Addiction and Social Anxiety in Turkish Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study. J Research Health 2026; 16 (4) :333-342
URL: http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-2994-en.html
URL: http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-2994-en.html
1- Department of Child Development, Faculty of Gülhane Health Sciences, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. , alev.ustundag@sbu.edu.tr
2- Department of Child Development, Faculty of Gülhane Health Sciences, University of Health Sciences (graduated), Ankara, Turkey.
2- Department of Child Development, Faculty of Gülhane Health Sciences, University of Health Sciences (graduated), Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract: (541 Views)
Background: This study aimed to examine the relationship between digital addiction and levels of social anxiety among Turkish adolescents aged 15–18.
Methods: This study employed a correlational research design, a quantitative research method. Five hundred and thirty-nine adolescents aged 15–18 years volunteered to participate in the study. The adolescents who participated in the study were selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a demographic information form and two scales: The digital addiction scale for teenagers and the social anxiety scale for adolescents. Descriptive statistical methods, Pearson’s correlation, and regression analyses were employed to analyze the data.
Results: The average digital addiction and social anxiety scores for adolescents were 37.66±11.58 and 41.05±15.09 points, respectively. Of the sub-dimensions, fear of negative evaluation was the highest (15.73±6.86). A highly positive relationship was found between digital addiction and social anxiety in adolescents (r=0.743). It was found that digital addiction predicted 15.4% of social anxiety in adolescents (R²=0.154).
Conclusion: Many factors affect both digital addiction and social anxiety. The findings of the current study suggest that, rather than being a factor in itself, digital addiction may be a risk factor for social anxiety in adolescents aged 15–18.
Methods: This study employed a correlational research design, a quantitative research method. Five hundred and thirty-nine adolescents aged 15–18 years volunteered to participate in the study. The adolescents who participated in the study were selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a demographic information form and two scales: The digital addiction scale for teenagers and the social anxiety scale for adolescents. Descriptive statistical methods, Pearson’s correlation, and regression analyses were employed to analyze the data.
Results: The average digital addiction and social anxiety scores for adolescents were 37.66±11.58 and 41.05±15.09 points, respectively. Of the sub-dimensions, fear of negative evaluation was the highest (15.73±6.86). A highly positive relationship was found between digital addiction and social anxiety in adolescents (r=0.743). It was found that digital addiction predicted 15.4% of social anxiety in adolescents (R²=0.154).
Conclusion: Many factors affect both digital addiction and social anxiety. The findings of the current study suggest that, rather than being a factor in itself, digital addiction may be a risk factor for social anxiety in adolescents aged 15–18.
Type of Study: Orginal Article |
Subject:
● Psychosocial Health
Received: 2025/11/26 | Accepted: 2026/02/25 | Published: 2026/07/1
Received: 2025/11/26 | Accepted: 2026/02/25 | Published: 2026/07/1
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