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Impact of smartphones on students: How age at first use and duration of usage affect learning and academic progress

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  • Han, Sunyoung

Abstract

This study examined how smartphones affect students in current times where they are gradually penetrating into our lives. This study used data from the Seoul Educational Longitudinal Study, of which the 9th year panel data was used. Structural equation modeling was utilized to examine the impacts of the age of the students when they use smartphones for the first time and how long they use it once addicted. The self-directed learning ability and academic achievement scores were also examined. It was found that the age at which the students started using smartphones affected their daily smartphone usage hours and their degree of smartphone addiction. Moreover, the amount of time the students used smartphones for entertainment or learning had different effects on smartphone addiction and self-directed learning ability directly and indirectly on academic achievement in Korean, mathematics, and English. The implications on education and research are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Han, Sunyoung, 2022. "Impact of smartphones on students: How age at first use and duration of usage affect learning and academic progress," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:70:y:2022:i:c:s0160791x22001439
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102002
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    Cited by:

    1. Casado-Mansilla, Diego & García-Zubia, Javier & Cuadros, Jordi & Serrano, Vanessa & Fadda, Daniela & Canivell, y Veronica, 2023. "Remote experiments for STEM education and engagement in rural schools: The case of project R3," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    2. Yin, Lipeng & Wang, Pengcheng & Li, Heng & Mao, Ningning & Hu, Huahua & Griffiths, Mark D., 2024. "Gender differences in the associations between parental phubbing, fear of missing out, and social networking site addiction: A cross-lagged panel study," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    3. Li, Madeline & Patel, Jamin & Katapally, Tarun Reddy, 2025. "Towards ethical surveillance of smartphone use among youth: exploratory digital citizen science approaches shaping the understanding of ubiquitous technology use," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Sanchis, Raúl G., 2023. "Towards a general equilibrium theory of allocation of time for the digital revolution era," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).

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