Work

Not Just a Screen: Understanding Students’ Engagement with Digital Technology in Educational Settings

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study explores students’ attitudes towards technology for learning, their cellphone use in class, and their digital distraction during educational activities, also considering the potential role of some sociodemographic characteristics. Participants were 803 Italian middle school students (Mage = 12.2 years, SD = 0.9; 53% female). Using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), we identified five profiles: Low-engagement users, Highly distracted, Disengaged distracted users, Self-regulated users, and Moderate users. Results highlighted small differences between profiles associated with age and maternal educational level. These findings underscore the dual nature of technology as both a valuable tool and a source of distraction from school activities, highlighting the importance of tailored strategies to promote balanced and mindful technology use. Future research should further explore how these profiles interact with broader psychosocial and developmental factors.

Source: Societies

DOI: 10.3390/soc16080239

Authors: Costanza Baviera, Nicla Cucinella, Francesco Preiti, Francesca Liga, Cristiano Inguglia, Sonia Ingoglia

Institutions: University of Bari Aldo Moro, University of Palermo, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", University of Messina

Language: English

Topic: Impact of Technology on Adolescents

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,689