Examining the Relationship Between Digital Addiction and Anxiety Among Academics

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between academics’ levels of digital addiction and their trait anxiety, as well as whether this relationship varies according to demographic variables. Data collected from 180 academics were analyzed using correlation and regression analyses. The findings revealed a positive correlation between digital addiction and trait anxiety, which was particularly pronounced among males, academics with 6 to 10 years of service, assistant professors, full professors, and married individuals. Regression analysis indicated a bidirectional relationship between trait anxiety and digital addiction. This finding highlights that digital addiction may function both as an outcome and a coping mechanism, while anxiety may serve as both a cause and a consequence of digital addiction. The direction of this relationship remains controversial in the literature, with prior studies primarily focusing on social anxiety and adolescent populations. Moreover, the relationship has been insufficiently explored within professional groups who are required to engage intensively with digital tools as part of their occupational responsibilities. In this regard, the present study makes a unique contribution by addressing this gap, focusing specifically on academics who interact heavily with digital devices, thereby offering novel insights into the interplay between trait anxiety and digital addiction.

Keywords

• Digital addiction
• trait anxiety
• technological addiction

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