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Past years have seen studies examining effects of digital media on attention problems and sleep in adolescents. The majority of these studies support that using digital media is related to attention problems and lower sleep quantity, and sleep quality in adolescents. The chapter overviews studies in the field, and avenues for future research. It is still unclear whether the link between digital media, attention, and sleep is causal. Recent media effects theories suggest these relationships are complex and dynamic. To answer questions on the effects of digital media use on attention and sleep, we need more research investigating the cause-and-effect nature of the relationship (e.g., longitudinal designs, intervention studies, field studies). Future studies should use more objective measures (i.e., tracking apps/wearables). Instead of focusing on the general effects of “social media” or “smartphones” we need a better understanding of which content within these media types are problematic for which individuals.
Media multitasking (MMT) begins to play an increasingly important role in terms of the digitalization of everyday life. At the same time, the effect of MMT on efficiency is still poorly highlighted, especially among the younger generation (May, Elder, 2018; Patterson, 2017; Peifer, Zipp, 2019).
Objectives
The aim is to identify types of MMT in children and compare them by productivity and time of task performance.
Methods
Quasi-experimental research, which included the performance of tasks on a computer and a smartphone, was conducted among children in three groups aged 7-10 years, 11-13 years, 14-16 years (N=154).
Results
Based on a number of criteria, several types of behavior are identified in the MMT environment: two subgroups of “single-taskers” (23%), “light” (19%), “medium” (54%) and “heavy” (4%) MMT. Comparative analysis (p=0.027) reveals high scores for proper task performance of the subgroup “single-taskers1”, as well as “heavy” and “light” MMT. The other subgroup “single-taskers2” and “medium” MMT show, on the contrary, low productivity results. MMT groups also differ in terms of task performance time (p=0.006). The “light” and “heavy” MMT cope the fastest. The second place by the speed of task performance is held by “medium” MMTs and “single-taskers1”, and the slowest are “single-taskers2”.
Conclusions
The results show that both linear and nonlinear behavioral strategies can lead to a certain level of performance. Most children try to operate in the MMT mode and it is becoming the dominant and ubiquitous modus vivendi for the younger generation. The reported study was funded by RFBR, project No. 19-29-14181.
Conflict of interest
The reported study was funded by RFBR, project No. 19-29-14181.
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