Technology Use Typologies and Psychological Adjustment During Adolescence

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to identify subgroups of adolescents based on their reported use of technology. Secondary aims were to examine whether technology use typologies differ by gender and to explore whether technology use typologies are linked to psychological adjustment. The sample included 1,003 10th and 11th grade students from U.S. high schools. Participating adolescents completed a survey in school. Latent class analysis (LCA) revealed three subgroups for adolescent girls and boys. Both girls and boys were characterized by a HIGH overall use subgroup and a LOW overall use subgroup. For the third subgroup, girls were characterized by high social-entertainment device use (SOC-ENT), whereas boys were characterized by high video game and computer use (VG-COMP). These subgroups were differentially related to self-competence and internalizing symptoms (depression and anxiety). Findings from this study highlight the importance of examining typologies of technology use by gender during adolescence.