Structural Equation Model of Elementary School Students’ Quality of Life Related to Smart Devices Usage Based on PRECEDE Model

Abstract

Korean elementary school students have the lowest life satisfaction levels among OECD countries. The use of smart devices has led to smartphone addiction, which seriously affects their quality of life. This study aims to establish and test variables that affect the quality of life (QOL) of elementary school students based on the Predisposing, Reinforcing and Enabling Constructs in Educational Diagnosis and Evaluation (PRECEDE) model, using smart device-related parental intervention, self-efficacy, social support, health promotion behaviors, family environment, smart device addiction, and QOL as measurement variables. Three elementary schools in the Republic of Korea completed self-report questionnaires. Descriptive statistical analysis and hypothetical model fit and test were used for data analysis. The model was found to be valid. Smart device addiction directly affected QOL. In contrast, health promotion behaviors, self-efficacy, social support, and smart device parental intervention indirectly affected QOL. Health-promoting behaviors also directly affected smart device addiction, self-efficacy, and family environment had a direct effect on health-promoting behavior. Therefore, to improve the QOL of elementary school students, the government should focus on developing programs that can help them actively perform health promotion activities and improve self-efficacy, social support, and parental intervention for smart devices that indirectly affect them.

Visualizing the Complex Problem of Children's Digital Wellbeing in South Korea: A Systems Thinking Approach

“…Additionally, media addiction-related external problems are also reflected in sensation-seeking and rule-breaking behavior (Choi et al, 2021). Both internal and external behavioral problems and screen time, in general, are associated with social and academic adaptation, which consequently both affect school adaptation (Ahn et al, 2017;Choi et al, 2021;Lee and Lee, 2021;Lee and Park, 2022). Consequently, poor school adaptation can negatively impact academic and social aspects, further exacerbating the problem and creating a loop.…”

“…Digital addiction can also indirectly cause additional health problems such as lack of sleep and reduced sleep quality leading to various health problems Park et al, 2022;Yoon et al, 2021). Additionally, smartphone and media addiction tend to be harmful to overall health as it can lower health-promoting behavior due to low self-regulation abilities (Lee and Lee, 2021). Hence, unhealthy and unregulated use of digital devices affect QOL as a whole, including physical, emotional, social, and academic areas.…”

“…Particularly, these impacts are evident among elementary students in South Korea, who are now part of Generation Alpha. It was found that Korean elementary school students have the lowest life satisfaction levels among OECD countries which is highly affected by the overuse of digital devices (Lee and Lee, 2021) and 37% of South Korean children and adolescents between the age of 10-19 are found to be overdependent on smartphones (Kan, 2022). In response to this problem, the term 'digital wellbeing' has emerged.…”

“…This is especially relevant to Generation Alpha, who were born after 2010 and have lived their lives integrated with digital devices since a very young age or even infancy, being part of the digital natives. Various studies have highlighted the negative impact of smart device overuse which can affect children's quality of life in various aspects including physical health, mental health, social interaction, overall happiness, and overall quality of life (QOL) (Jeong et al, 2019;Lee and Lee, 2021;Moon et al, 2016). Particularly, these impacts are evident among elementary students in South Korea, who are now part of Generation Alpha.…”

Differences in Student Brain Activation from Digital Learning Based on Risk of Digital Media Addiction

“…In addition, previous studies have shown that the increasing use of digital devices has raised concerns regarding physical and psychological health problems, and even quality of life [ 16 ]. In addition, this increase may lead to digital media addiction.…”