Relationship between a problematic complex of digital addictions and the addict’s emotional and personal spheres

Pages: 130-140  |
DOI: 10.37724/RSU.2026.1.77.012  |
EDN: —  |
UDK: 004:159.923

Sheinov V.P.
Republican Institute of Higher Education

Karpievich V.A.
Belarusian State Technological University

AbstractDigital addictions (smartphone, social media, video games) are widespread in modern society, causing significant harm to the addicts, especially in case of multiple addictions. The authors’ previous publications demonstrate that smartphone, social media, and video game addictions form a “problem complex of digital addictions,” including such addictions and their positive relationships with each other, as well as with problematic personality traits such as aggression, anxiety, depression, procrastination, sleep problems, and daily video game playing time. Research hypothesis: The problem complex of digital addictions can extend to feelings of loneliness, perceived stress, intellectual ability, and emotional intelligence. The study is based on the results of online testing of 2,181 respondents (mean age M = 23.5 years, SD = 10.6). The following were used: 1) questionnaires on addictions to smartphones (author V. P. Sheinov), social media (V. P. Sheinov, A. S. Devitsyn), and video games (adapted by V.P. Sheinov and V. A. Karpievich); 2) scales on intelligence (Cattell), stress (V. A. Ababkov), loneliness (adapted by N. E. Vodopyanova), and emotional intelligence (E. Hall). The initial hypothesis was confirmed: similarly directed associations were found for smartphones, social media, and video game addictions for men and women: positive associations with feelings of loneliness and perceived stress, and negative associations with intelligence and emotional intelligence. This expanded the “problem complex of digital addictions” by adding corresponding characteristics. The resulting expansion of the “problem complex” is not limited to nationalities, as similar associations between all of the variables have been established in international studies. The theoretical significance of the study lies in establishing positive correlations between digital addictions and their similar relationships with a wide range of characteristics in users suffering from at least one digital addiction: any established digital addiction is psychologically linked to two others, and therefore there may develop a new addiction. The practical application of the study is due to the fact that the obtained results can be used in prevention of digital addictions in schoolchildren and students, as a predisposition to this condition has been demonstrated. Sharing the results of this study with students can raise the effectiveness of this educational direction.

Keywords: addiction, video games, smartphone, social media, feelings of loneliness, perceived stress, intelligence, emotional intelligence
Funding:
none

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