ADDICTION OF GADGETS AND ITS IMPACT ON HEALTH OF YOUTH

Altius Shodh Journal of Management and Commerce
ISSN 2348 – 8891
ADDICTION OF GADGETS AND ITS IMPACT ON HEALTH OF YOUTH:
A STUDY OF STUDENTS IN INDORE DISTRICT
Dr. Ashish Pathak, ** Prof. Maneesh Soni, *** Dr. Kumbhan Khandelwal
*Professor, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Arts and Commerce College, Indore.
**H.O.D (Dept. of Mass Communication), Renaissance College of Commerce and Management, Indore.
***Professor, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Arts and Commerce College, Indore.
Abstract
In the present time the introduction of modern technological gadgets has created the attention of global
population. The dependency of people on these hi-tech gadgets and services provided by these has reached at
such level that, without these, they can't think a step forward in the direction of their growth. Which also
leading to addiction or we can say obsession of the tech-devices and services. Youth is the most defenseless
group among the population to be addicted to technology. The study was designed to examine the use of techdevices by youth i.e. the time spent with the gadgets, the purposes behind use, and its impacts on mental
health and life style. Using structured questionnaire, unstructured interviews and observation based on primary
data collected from 300 respondents in Indore especially from various undergraduate colleges showed that
most of the young respondents spend a large amount of their time with their tech-gadgets and services
provided by the technological environment. The purposes of use in most cases are pleasure driven rather than
necessity. In addition it reveals that obsession to tech-devices has many negative impacts on the aspects
relating to mental health o f the respondents and has become a causal factor in the change of life style of
young participants. The results are interpreted based on the current theories and implications for future are
pointed out.
Keywords: Gadgets, Hi Fi, Addiction, Problems
Introduction:
The term technology comes from the Greek word “techne”,
which means the art or skill used in order to solve a problem,
improve a pre-existing solution to a problem, achieve a
goal, handle an applied input/ output relation or perform a
specific function; technology is the making, modification,
usage and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques and
method of organization (Liddel, Scott, Jones & McKenzie,
1940). The young and trendy generation of today judge
themselves, according to the kind of gadgets they possess.
The popularity of gadgets among youth has ensured that
newer and trendier gadgets are introduced very passing
day. The addiction of gadgets has been such among one
and all that it has become unthinkable of a life without a
gadget. The effect of these gadgets has been tremendous,
and it is often debated that whether the impact that it has
made on the youth is a positive or negative one.
Review of Literature:
There are several studies which show the positive impacts
of the technological gadgets and services. Other studies
reveal the negative impacts of these tech-products. Some
of the studies take both the positive and negative impacts
of these technologies into consideration and some others
show a balanced approach regarding the use of the techgadgets and services.
The digital behavior of the youth makes them sit at one
place for a long period of time and the eye, hand and mental
coordination is maintained during that period. To cross the
levels step by step in the games may improve the
engineering skills among the youth and it may also help in
building up good attitudes of moving ahead in life in spite
of any obstacles. Following studies support the positive
effects of the tech-gadgets and services.
Internet continues to grow beyond our belief. About 32.7%
of the world’s population has access to the social networking
sites like Face book, Twitter, Linked-In, YouTube, Flicker,
blogs, wikis, and many more which let people of all ages
rapidly share their interests of the moment with others
everywhere. So the interconnectedness throughout the
world is growing rapidly due to internet use (Tsitsika &
Janikian, 2013).
Individuals who are engaged in high level of technical
activities through the digital devices are better in performing
cognitive tasks. The effective use of the gadgets may have
positive impacts on cognitive thinking and also makes them
master multitasking (Ophir, Nass & Wagner, 2009).
It would have been a lot better if the drawbacks or the
negative impacts of the use of the digital services would
have been known before some years. As the use of the
digital services has negative impacts students should
minimize the use of these tools and should aware about its
use (Walsh, 2012).
Altius Shodh Journal of Management and Commerce
Internet gaming and shopping is causing depressive
symptoms among the college students. Implementation of
programs is needed to detect and decrease these activities
among them (Cotton, 2001).
The addictive internet use has negative impacts on mental
health. There is a positive relationship between Internet
addiction and psychiatric disorders like depression, bipolar
disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit
disorder, etc. So the addictive internet use should need
clinical help (Young, 1998).
Technology has Both Positive and Negative Impacts Some
studies fo cus on both the po sitive and negativ e
consequences of use of the tech-devices and services and
provide a equalized approach regarding the use of the same.
Technology is an integral part of our everyday life as people
are dependent on it from all ov er the w orld f or
communication, organization and employment etc. One
cannot stay away from technology even for a day. Not even
a single day goes without a cell phone in hand or without
laptop and net surfing. Although technology being at its
best there are basic problems that follow us everywhere
and generally it has drawbacks in the areas of health, public
safety and education (Saez, 2010).
Students should be encouraged to develop in a technological
world. The necessity of social networking, computer games
or digital habits of them should be understood by the elders.
But simultaneously the consequences of those habits should
also be studied. It is better to study the relationship between
technology, child development and the popular culture.
Parents should facilitate a healthy and balanced relationship
between technology and their children helping them to use
the social media effectively (Mitchel, 2012).
Objectives of the Study:
The Major Objectives behind the study is as follows1.
To study the time spent by the youth with their techdevices.
2.
To observe the intentions behind use of tech-devices
and services.
3.
To notice the impacts of the addictive usage of the
variety gadgets and services on physical and mental
health.
Research Methodology: Research includes both primary and
secondary data, where primary data is collected through
sampling to make this study purposive one. On other hand
secondary data is collected through various secondary
sources viz. websites, magazines, blogs, etc.
The purposive sampling is followed by collection of
information from 300 respondents i.e students of
undergraduate colleges in Indore & due to some limitations
of study the names of colleges is not indulged in this paper.
RESULTS AND FINDINGS: The economic status is one of
the important factors for the study which indicates that an
economically sound person is capable to buy the electronic
gadgets like mobile phones, smart phones, laptops, tablets
ISSN 2348 – 8891
etc. Parental Income and spending time with gadgets along
with internet is also considered for data collection, which is
depicted in the pie charts as shown below:
Altius Shodh Journal of Management and Commerce
ISSN 2348 – 8891
(Respondents having Hearing Problem,
Headache and Sleeping Problem)
Health Impacts of Excessive Use of Tech gadgets
on health of students: Physical Problems 1. Physical Health Problems through ear phones on
hearing capacity of respondents -
Respondents as per
the use of ear
phones per day
Findings show that out of 300 respondents 72% suffering
from hearing problems due to addiction towards excessive
usage of earphones for more than 6 hours in a day. The
lowest rate of respondents addicted with touch screen
gadgets for 1-2 hour is 11 % whereas this is consistently
increased with usage for more than 6 hours i.e., 60%. On
the other hand about 60% of the respondents who are using
their gadgets for more than 6 hours have stated that they
face problem in falling asleep or staying asleep. But in other
cases, respondents had sound sleep if they used the gadgets
for a limited time.
1-2 hr
% age of the
respondents
having hearing
problems
10%
2-4 hr
13%
Health Impacts of Excessive Use of Tech
gadgets on health of students: Mental
Problem -
4-6 hr
55%
1. Impacts on Logical Thinking and Memory
>6hr
72%
2. Physical Health Problems- Causing headaches in
respondents -
Respondents as per
the use of gadgets
per day
1-2 hr
% age of the
respondents having
regular headaches
11%
2-4 hr
Respondents as per % age of respondents
the use of gadgets
having problems in
per day
logical thinking
1-2 hr
6%
2-4 hr
11%
15%
4-6 hr
18%
4-6 hr
42%
>6 hr
45%
>6 hr
79%
3. Physical Health Problems- Causing sleeping problem -
Respondents as per % age of respondents
the use of gadgets
having sleeping
per day
problems
1-2 hr
2%
2-4 hr
4%
4-6 hr
9%
>6 hr
60%
2. Problem of depression
Respondents as per
the use of gadgets
per day
1-2 hr
% age of the
respondents
depressed
16%
2-4 hr
25%
4-6 hr
50%
>6 hr
85%
Altius Shodh Journal of Management and Commerce
3. Impact on Mental Stability
Respondents as per
% age of respondents
the use of gadgets
worry excessively
per day
1-2 hr
7%
2-4 hr
14%
4-6 hr
40%
>6 hr
69%
4. Impact on level of Consciousness
Respondents as per % age of respondents
the use of gadgets
having low
per day
consciousness
1-2 hr
10%
2-4 hr
12%
4-6 hr
20%
>6 hr
68%
ISSN 2348 – 8891
Again the degree of depression varies from lower to higher
as per the increasing order of the time period of the use of
gadgets. It may be the result of social isolation of the
students due to the devotion of large amount of time
towards the technology.
Weak minds are mostly getting worried even if in small
matters. Results shows that 69 % respondents losing
patience and face the syndrome of mental stability especially
users of gadgets more than 6 hours. The amount decreases
with case 1-2, 2-4 respectively.
Nearly 70 % in the user group > 6 are facing problems
in making quick decisions due to lack of consciousness,
which is again an example of negative impact of gadgets.
Limitations Of Research - We wind up this study with its
limitations. Of course the sample size of the present
research is not representative as expected & there is need
of future research too. Limitation of time restricts the study
to focus on users groups. Study is only focused on physical
and mental problems of respondents while other factor also
affects health of youth but could not be controlled.
Conclusions: The above study is conducted in a developed
city and developing country like researches in western
developing countries. We conclude that 3rd & 4th generation
technology changes the world of communication very fast,
but we must control it through setting of our priorities
because any product or service should be used as necessity
driven rather than luxury.
References:
Findings show that out of 300 respondents 45% having
problems related with recalling things which is symbol of
imbalance of memory and logical thinking.
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http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Effect-Of-Gadgets-OnThe-Youth&id=5908501
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http://www.theguardian.com