An examination of the relationship between the use of information technologies in adolescents and digital addiction and psychological mentality

AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN ADOLESCENTS AND DIGITAL ADDICTION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MENTALITY Dilan ALTÜN Thesis Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burcu DEMİR GÖKMEN Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between information technology use in adolescents and digital addiction and psychological mentality. Material and Method: This study, which used the relational survey model to determine the relationship between variables, was conducted in the Eleşkirt district of Ağrı province between March 15, 2024, and June 10, 2024. The population of the study consisted of high school students in the Eleşkirt district. The sample of the study consisted of 310 high school students selected by a simple random sampling method. The study data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, Information Technology Usage Scale, Digital Addiction Scale for Adolescents, and Psychological Mentality Scale for Adolescents. Independent groups t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and Tukey post-hoc test were used in the analysis of the data. SPSS software was used in all analyses. Analyses were based on a p<0.05 significance level. Findings: Of the adolescents in the study, 64.2% were female, 85.5% had smartphones, 70.6% had social media accounts, and their mean age was 15.38±1.08.It was found that adolescents' use of information technologies, digital addiction, and psychological mentality were at a moderate level. A positive correlation was found between adolescents' use of information technologies and their digital addiction (p<0.05). No correlation was found between adolescents' psychological mentality and their use of information technologies. No correlation was found between adolescents' psychological mentality and their digital addictions. Conclusion: Adolescents' digital addiction increases as their use of information technologies, and technological devices and applications increases. No correlation was found between adolescents' psychological mentality and their use of information technologies and digital addictions. Periodic psychoeducation programs that will increase adolescents' psychological mentality and raise awareness about the conscious use of technology are recommended. Keywords: Adolescent, Digital Addiction, Informatics, Psychological Mentality, Technology.