The Relationship between Problematic Technology Use and Mental Health Problems in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on individuals both psychologically and socially. The current research shows that problematic technology use and mental health problems increased during the pandemic period. 
 Method: In this study, studies examining the relationship between problematic technology use and mental health problems in the COVID-19 pandemic were examined and a meta-analysis was conducted. The present meta-analysis focused on the problematic technology use (i.e., internet addiction, smartphone addiction, social media addiction, and game addiction) and mental health problems in the COVID-19 pandemic. Searches were conducted for relevant studies using the ProQuest, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, and TR Dizin databases. A total of 56 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 53,047 participants were reached in these studies. 
 Results: Rosenthal’s classic fail-safe N analysis reveals that the meta-analysis result is statistically significant (p=.000). Moreover, the fact that the Begg and Mazumdar rank correlation is not significant indicates the absence of publication bias (p=0.28). In addition, no missing studies were found in Duval and Tweedie’s trim and fill analysis. The results demonstrated that problematic technology use was moderately positively correlated with mental health problems (r=0.33, n=53.047). In addition, the Q statistic (1833.059) examined to control heterogeneity shows that all variables are heterogeneous. The results of the I2 statistic (93.4%) show that a high level of heterogeneity has been achieved. 
 Discussion: This finding shows that problematic technology use was associated with various mental health problems during the pandemic period.

Efficacy of Technology Addiction Awareness Training Given to High School Students: Randomized Controlled Experimental Study

“…A systematic study was conducted by Hamarta et al, (2021) using terms such as internet addiction, psychoeducation etc.. As a result of this study, it was concluded that the experimental attempts made on internet addiction were effective on one of the sub-dimensions of technology addiction. Considering the results of a systematic analysis examining the programs prepared to prevent internet addiction in adolescents, it was stated that the results of the studies carried out to reduce internet addiction in this period were positive (Bağatarhan & Siyez, 2017).…”

“…The increase in the use of technological products in adolescents has led to both positive and negative results. Among the positive results of the use of technological products, it is possible to mention these results: Faciliating the accessibility of information, providing the opportunity to examine the subjects and events in the course curriculum in three dimensions thanks to digital tools and providing the opportunity to be more understandable, positively affecting academic success, concretizing information by visualizing, faciliating communication and providing fast shopping etc.. (Hamarta et al, 2021). In addition, it is known that digital tools turned out to be effective in an uninterrupted, continuous education during the Covid19 pandemic.…”