Parent-Child Relationship and Gadget Addiction: The Role of Loneliness

Gadget addiction refers to the excessive dependence on electronic devices, leading to significant disruptions in daily life and functioning. One of the major contributing factors to gadget addiction is the quality of the parent-child relationship, which, when poor, may lead to increased feelings of loneliness. This study aims to analyze the role of loneliness as a mediating factor in the relationship between parent-child relationships and gadget addiction. A quantitative study design was employed, utilizing three validated psychological scales: SAS-SV, PCRS, and UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3. The study sampled 188 junior high school students through purposive sampling. Data analysis using Hayes' mediation model revealed that loneliness partially mediates the effect of parent-child relationships on gadget addiction. These findings highlight the importance of fostering strong parent-child bonds to mitigate the risks of gadget addiction among adolescents.

Gadget addiction, parent-child relationship

1. APA. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM). In American Psychiatric Association (APA) (Fifth/5). APA. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-657410-3/00457-8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. APJII. (2024). Jumlah pengguna internet Indonesia tembus 221 juta orang. Survei Penetrasi Internet Indonesia 2024. https://survei.apjii.or.id/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Aulia, Z., Matondang, M., Latifah, T., Sari, D. P., & Nasution, F. (2022). Peran orangtua dalam perkembangan psikososial pada masa remaja. Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Konseling, 4(6), 11063–11068. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Baron, R., & Kenny, D. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173–1182. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506818764762 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Celikkalp, U., Bilgic, S., Temel, M., & Varol, G. (2020). The smartphone addiction levels and the association with communication skills in nursing and medical school students. Journal of Nursing Research, 28(3), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1097/jnr.0000000000000370 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Cheng, Y. C., Yang, T. A., & Lee, J. C. (2021). The relationship between smartphone addiction, parent-child relationship, loneliness and self-efficacy among senior high school students in taiwan. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169475 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Diadi, A. A., Nurdin, M. F., & Gunawan, W. (2023). Social interaction of students with gadget: Patterns and experiences during school time. Utamax : Journal of Ultimate Research and Trends in Education, 5(2), 126–138. https://doi.org/10.31849/utamax.v5i2.13763 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Dikec, G. (2018). Relationship between smartphone addiction and loneliness among adolescents. Bağımlılık Dergisi, 1(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Fadilah, R., Putri, J. H. E., Nurfaridah, K., & Marselina, L. (2023). Pengaruh pola asuh orangtua terhadap perkembangan psikososial anak menurut kepribadian Erik H. Erikson. Yasin, 3(5), 800–813. https://doi.org/10.58578/yasin.v3i5.1409 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Fatah, V. F., Nursyamsiyah, Kamsatun, Ariyanti, M., & Susanti, S. (2022). Kecanduan gadget pada remaja pasca pembelajaran daring di masa pandemi Covid 19. Jurnal Riset Kesehatan Poltekkes Depkes Bandung, 14(2), 284–291. https://doi.org/10.34011/juriskesbdg.v14i2.2131 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Gao, M., & Cummings, E. M. (2019). Understanding parent-child relationship as a developmental process: Fluctuations across days and changes over years. Dev Psychol, 5(55), 1046–1058. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000680 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Hidayat, R., Erniwati, E., & Ismail, I. (2024). The impact of facebook social media usage on the social relationships of teenagers in Makassar city. Jurnal Ilmiah Mandala Education, 10(1), 197. https://doi.org/10.58258/jime.v10i1.6628 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Hinduan, Z. R., Anggraeni, A., & Agia, M. I. (2020). Generation Z in Indonesia: The self-driven digital. The New Generation Z in Asia: Dynamics, Differences, Digitalization, 121–134. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80043-220-820201012 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Hussien, R. M. (2022). The association between nomophobia and loneliness among the general population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Middle East Current Psychiatry, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-022-00235-8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Hysa, B., Karasek, A., & Zdonek, I. (2021). Social media usage by different generations as a tool for sustainable tourism marketing in society 5.0 idea. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(3), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031018 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Khairuldin, W. M. K. F. W., Anas, W. N. I. W. N., Mohamad, M. Z., Embong, A. H., & Mokhtar, W. K. A. W. (2021). The role of prophet Muhammad SAW in educating children and its applications to prevent gadget addiction among children. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 13(2), 718–722. https://doi.org/10.9756/INT-JECSE/V13I2.211112 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Kim, S. G., Park, J., Kim, H. T., Pan, Z., Lee, Y., & McIntyre, R. S. (2019). The relationship between smartphone addiction and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity in South Korean adolescents. Annals of General Psychiatry, 18(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-019-0224-8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Kurniawati, N. N., & Sutharjana, I. M. (2023). The influence of gadgets on the development of the early-age learners’ behavior and character. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences, 1(2), 159–171. https://doi.org/10.37329/ijms.v1i2.2321 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Latifi, Y., Zaini, H., Herniti, E., Ubaidillah, Fitiryah, T., & Patah, A. (2022). Refleksi Kajian: Bahasa, Sastra, Dan Budaya (Y. N. Lafiti (ed.); Issue November). KDT Perpustakaan Nasional RI. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Lillford, P., & Hermansson, A. M. (2021). Global missions and the critical needs of food science and technology. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 111(April), 800–811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2020.04.009 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Mabaroh, B., & Sugianti, L. (2021). Gadget addiction and the students’ achievement. International Journal of Social Learning (IJSL), 1(3), 321–332. https://doi.org/10.47134/ijsl.v1i3.59 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Mustafa, P. S. (2023). Tinjauan literatur analisis uji r berganda dan uji lanjut dalam statistik inferensial. Jurnal Ilmiah Wahana Pendidikan, 9(5), 571–593. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7758162 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Pardo, A., & Román, M. (2013). Reflections on the Baron and Kenny model of statistical mediation. Anales de Psicologia, 29(2), 614–623. https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps.29.2.139241 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Persada, S. F., Ivanovski, J., Miraja, B. A., Nadlifatin, R., Mufidah, I., Chin, J., & Redi, A. A. N. P. (2020). Investigating generation Z’ intention to use learners’ generated content for learning activity: A theory of planned behavior approach. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 15(4), 179–194. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v15i04.11665 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Pradhita, F. R., & Widyorini, E. (2023). Loneliness, parent-child relationship and gadget addiction. Proceeding The 2nd International Seminar of Multicultural Psychology (ISMP 2nd), 2016, 362–368. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Promkes, T. (2023). Mengatasi dan mencegah kecanduan gadget pada anak. Kemenkes. https://yankes.kemkes.go.id/view_artikel/2481/mengatasi-dan-mencegah-kecanduan-gadget-pada-anak [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Riyanasari, Wardhani, J. D., & Supriyono, H. (2023). Gadgets and their impact on the development of religious and moral values. International Journal of Active Learning, 8(1), 1–9. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Salles, F. L. P., Feitanin Basso, M., & Leonel, A. (2024). Smartphone use: implications for musculoskeletal symptoms and socio-demographic characteristics in students. Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation / Rehabilitacion Interdisciplinaria, 4(72), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.56294/ri202472 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Song, I. (2021). The effects of adolescents’ relationships with parents and school/institute teachers as protective factors on smartphone addiction: Comparative analysis of elementary, middle, and high school levels in south korea. Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research, 9(2), 106–141. https://doi.org/10.15206/ajpor.2021.9.2.106 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Sugianto, H. (2013). Kajian efektivitas sistem informasi penjualan online: Studi kasus www.tokprada.com. Jurnal Paradigma, 15(1), 53–66. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Sugiyono. (2019). Metode penelitian kuantitatif, kualitatif dan R&D (2nd (secon). Alfabeta. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Suryana, E., Hasdikurniati, A. I., Harmayanti, A. A., & Harto, K. (2022). Perkembangan remaja awal, menengah dan implikasinya terhadap pendidikan. Jurnal Ilmiah Mandala Education (JIME), 8(3), 1917–1928. https://doi.org/10.58258/jime.v9il.3494/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Turner, S., Fulop, A., & Woodcock, K. A. (2024). Loneliness: Adolescents’ perspectives on what causes it, and ways youth services can prevent it. Children and Youth Services Review, 157(January), 107442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107442 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Yoon, M., & Yun, H. (2023). Relationships between adolescent smartphone usage patterns, achievement goals, and academic achievement. Asia Pacific Education Review, 24(1), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-021-09718-5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Young, K. (2015). The Evolution of internet addiction. Addictive Behaviors, 64, 229–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.05.016 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Yumarni, V. (2022). Pengaruh gadget terhadap anak usia dini. Jurnal Literasiologi, 8(2), 107–119. https://doi.org/10.47783/literasiologi.v8i2.369 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Zeng, Y., Zhang, J., Wei, J., & Li, S. (2022). The impact of undergraduates’ social isolation on smartphone addiction : The roles of academic anxiety and social media use. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19(15903), 1–16. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Zhou, J., Li, X., & Gong, X. (2022). Parental phubbing and internet gaming addiction in children: Mediating roles of parent-child relationships and depressive symptoms. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 25(8), 512–517. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2022.0021 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• A Comparative Study of Adjustment Level, Parental Income and Academic Achievement of Adolescent Girls
• Increase in STIs among Adolescents in Masvingo District
• A Correlation between SDG 4 (Quality Education) and Emotional Disposition of Teacher Educators in Hyderabad District
• Ear Piercing Behaviour and Self-Esteem among Male University Students in Nigeria
• A Study of Religiosity and Psychological Well-Being