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Use of Electronic Media and its Relationship with Academic Achievement among School Going Adolescents

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Abstract

The study examined patterns of use of older and newer electronic media at home among school going adolescents and studied its relationship with academic functioning. Patterns of media use, television and internet, was studied for 362 school going adolescents aged 14–18 years. Academic functioning was assessed with the help of subtests of the Woodcock Johnson III Achievement Test Battery. Time spent on the computer, regardless of content, was positively correlated to academic outcomes. In contrast time spent watching television was negatively correlated to academic achievement. Possibly the new electronic media is interactive and provides more choices with respect to content and leads to improved academic functioning. There is need to increase access to electronic technology to bridge the digital divide among disadvantaged Indian youth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh, India, 160012

    Prahbhjot Malhi & Bhavneet Bharti

  2. Department of Psychology, MCM DAV College for women, Sector 36, Chandigarh, India

    Manjit Sidhu

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  1. Prahbhjot Malhi
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  2. Bhavneet Bharti
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Correspondence to Prahbhjot Malhi.

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Malhi, P., Bharti, B. & Sidhu, M. Use of Electronic Media and its Relationship with Academic Achievement among School Going Adolescents. Psychol Stud 61, 67–75 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-015-0346-2

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