The influence of the digital learning environment on the anxiety and stress experienced by today's teenagers
Keywords:
Learning Environment, Digital, Anxiety, Stress, Adolescent, PresentAbstract
The increasingly massive digital learning environment used by adolescents raises concerns about its impact on mental health, especially anxiety and stress. Studies show a positive relationship between the intensity of social media use and an increase in psychological disorders due to social, academic, and technology addiction. This study aims to analyze the influence of the digital learning environment on adolescent anxiety and stress levels and identify the dominant contributing factors. Quantitative methods were used with cross-sectional design and purposive sampling techniques on 100 adolescents aged 17 years in urban areas. The sample was selected based on the criteria of regular use of online learning platforms (approximately 4 hours/day) and active social media of approximately 5 accounts. Data collection was carried out through an online questionnaire containing the Digital Stress Inventory (DSI) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scales, analyzed using Pearson correlation tests and linear regression. The results showed that 62% of respondents experienced high levels of digital stress and 58% were categorized as mild to severe clinical anxiety. Regression analysis revealed that the duration of online learning (approximately 6 hours/day) was significantly correlated with increased stress (β=0.34, p<0.01), while social pressure on social media accounted for 27% of anxiety variants. Dominant factors include the demands of academic multitasking, the digital gap between students, and sleep disturbances due to excessive screen exposure. The study's conclusions confirm that the digital learning environment has the potential to increase the risk of adolescent mental disorders if not managed wisely. The implication is that the integration of digital literacy modules in school curricula and psychoeducational interventions is needed to optimize the benefits of technology while mitigating its negative impacts.
Keywords: Learning Environment, Digital, Anxiety, Stress, Adolescent, Present.
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