A Multidimensional Measure of Adolescent Technology Use

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: Analyzing Adolescence From Multidisciplinary Lenses (Table 10)

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to develop a multidimensional measure of adolescent technology use. In Study 1, 4773 students answered items that were generated based on prior literature. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis to identify the main dimensions underlying responses. In Study 2, 3567 students completed the updated measure and measures of related constructs. The new measure includes seven domains (online citizenship, tech anxiety, problematic internet use, safety and sharing, preparedness, academics, and social connectedness) that each have sufficient internal reliability and are correlated with positive affect, negative affect, prosocial intentions, and school satisfaction in theoretically-expected ways. This measure could be used to understand how technology use influences adolescents’ well-being, especially in the school context.

Authors

• Tse Yen Tan, Yale University

• Rachel Baumsteiger, Yale University

• Jessica D. Hoffmann, Yale University