Excessive Technology Use and Social Media Disorder Among Turkish Adolescents: A Holistic Perspective

In this study, adolescents’ excessive use of technology (EUT) and social media disorder (SMD) levels were examined using variables such as gender, age, academic achievement, mental illness, perceived social support, family belonging, school belonging, self-control, and social problem-solving skills, which are thought to predict technology use in adolescents. Two structural equation models were established with the variables. The study was conducted with high school students, and a total of 1971 high school students from 12 provinces of Turkey participated. Excessive use of technology was found to be positively correlated with age and impulsive and avoidant problem solving, and negatively correlated with family belonging, school belonging, self-control, and perceived support from the family. Social media disorder was found to be positively correlated with impulsive and avoidant problem solving and negatively correlated with family belonging, school belonging, self-control, and perceived social support from family and friends.This study suggest that self-control plays a critical role in use of technology and social media. Therefore, interventions and future research need to further examine adolescents’ development of self-control skills, family relationships, and problem solving styles.