Abstract:
Background: Prevalence of screen addiction among secondary school children is a significant
problem which affects various psychological issues. Identifying the extent and associated
psychological problems is crucial in order to develop effective policies and take actions.
Objectives: To study the prevalence of screen addiction and its psychological impact on
secondary-level school children in Galle educational division
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 419 school children in the
age of 12-16 years from selected schools within Galle educational division, using stratified
multistage cluster sampling method. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used to
assess prevalence, screen addictive behavior, and psychological problems. Screen addiction was
defined as using screens for more than 2 hours. Depression, anxiety, and stress levels were
evaluated using Depression Anxiety Stress Scale - Youth 21. Data analysis performed using SPSS
version 25.0, and the association between screen addiction and psychological problems were
determined using Chi-squared test.
Results: In the sample, majority were Sinhalese (81.1%), while 18.9% were Muslims. Among
them, 56.6% were male. The prevalence of screen addiction was 39.6%. The study found that
computers (3.6%), laptops/tablets (4.8%), smartphones (20.6%) and television (25. 5%) as the
frequently used screen devices. In screen addictive behavior, majority (45.1%) agreed with the
statement “Even if I don’t get any message, I check the screen of my mobile device” while 10.2%
agreed with “I often use screen devices soon after wake up (while staying in the bed)”.
Additionally, 27.7% had an urge to use any of the screen devices. Findings of the study reveals
that among screen addicted participants, 23.4 % were severely depressed, 18% were severely
anxious, and 19.8 % were severely stressed. Study demonstrated a significant association
(p<0.005) between screen addiction and depression, anxiety, stress among secondary school
children.
Conclusion: Screen addiction is prevalent among secondary-level school children in Galle
district, leading to psychological health problems. Awareness, intervention, and balanced screen
usage are crucial for promoting well-being and further research is needed to confirm findings and
enhance preventive measures for screen addiction.
Keywords: Psychological impact, Screen addiction, Secondary-level school children, Sri Lanka
