The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance

Özkan Özbay; Selma Durmuş Sarıkahya; Sevil Çınar Özbay

doi:10.17275/per.26.26.13.2

The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance

Abstract

With the integration of digital technologies into daily life, university students' digital media usage habits have begun to significantly impact their academic achievement, psychological well-being, and self-regulation skills. This study aims to examine the effects of digital detox practices among university students on their levels of digital phobia, academic motivation, self-efficacy perceptions, and academic performance. A descriptive and correlational research design was adopted. The sample consisted of 451 undergraduate students studying in the Faculties of Education, Health Sciences, and Engineering at a public university in Turkey during the spring semester of the 2024–2025 academic year. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Fırat Nomophobia Scale, the Fırat Netlessphobia Scale, the Academic Motivation Scale, the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, and students’ self-reported academic performance scores. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, t-tests, and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. The study found that students who practiced digital detox had significantly higher levels of academic performance, motivation, and self-efficacy, and significantly lower levels of nomophobia and netlessphobia. According to the regression analysis, academic motivation and self-efficacy significantly predicted digital detox behavior, whereas digital phobia levels did not have a significant predictive effect. These findings suggest that academically competent students are more likely to engage in digital detox practices to sustain their academic success. Accordingly, it is recommended that university curricula integrate content aimed at raising awareness of digital detox and implement educational programs that promote such practices, as a supportive intervention to enhance students’ academic and psychological well-being.

Keywords

Digital detox, Nomophobia, Netlessphobia, Academic motivation, Academic self-efficacy, Academic performance

Project Number

This project was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Artvin Çoruh University (Project No: 2024.M65.02.01

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Higher Education Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Özkan Özbay ^*
0000-0001-7754-2594
Türkiye

Selma Durmuş Sarıkahya
0000-0002-0318-3098
Türkiye

Sevil Çınar Özbay
0000-0002-9281-1614
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 8, 2026

Submission Date

September 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 13, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.26.13.2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA42ER22GJ

APA

Özbay, Ö., Durmuş Sarıkahya, S., & Çınar Özbay, S. (2026). The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance. Participatory Educational Research, 13(2), 209-225. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.26.13.2

AMA

1.Özbay Ö, Durmuş Sarıkahya S, Çınar Özbay S. The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance. PER. 2026;13(2):209-225. doi:10.17275/per.26.26.13.2

Chicago

Özbay, Özkan, Selma Durmuş Sarıkahya, and Sevil Çınar Özbay. 2026. “The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance”. Participatory Educational Research 13 (2): 209-25. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.26.13.2.

EndNote

Özbay Ö, Durmuş Sarıkahya S, Çınar Özbay S (March 1, 2026) The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance. Participatory Educational Research 13 2 209–225.

IEEE

[1]Ö. Özbay, S. Durmuş Sarıkahya, and S. Çınar Özbay, “The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance”, PER, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 209–225, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.17275/per.26.26.13.2.

ISNAD

Özbay, Özkan - Durmuş Sarıkahya, Selma - Çınar Özbay, Sevil. “The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance”. Participatory Educational Research 13/2 (March 1, 2026): 209-225. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.26.13.2.

JAMA

1.Özbay Ö, Durmuş Sarıkahya S, Çınar Özbay S. The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance. PER. 2026;13:209–225.

MLA

Özbay, Özkan, et al. “The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance”. Participatory Educational Research, vol. 13, no. 2, Mar. 2026, pp. 209-25, doi:10.17275/per.26.26.13.2.

Vancouver

1.Özkan Özbay, Selma Durmuş Sarıkahya, Sevil Çınar Özbay. The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance. PER. 2026 Mar. 1;13(2):209-25. doi:10.17275/per.26.26.13.2

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The Effects of Digital Detox on Digital Phobias, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Performance

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