THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN GADGET ADDICTION AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IN EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENTS AT YOS SUDARSO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, BATAM CITY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Gadget use among adolescents continues to increase with technological advances. Excessive use may lead to gadget addiction and affect adolescents' emotional condition. Methods: This observational analysis utilized a cross-sectional format and involved 140 eighth-grade pupils from Yos Sudarso Junior High School located in Batam City, chosen through proportional random sampling. The reliance on electronic gadgets was evaluated with the "Smartphone Addiction Scale – Short Version" (SAS-SV), and the emotional condition was measured using the "Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire" (SDQ). The data were examined using the Spearman correlation method. Results: Most respondents had low gadget addiction (82.9%). Emotional difficulties were predominantly in the normal category (78.6%), while emotional strengths were mostly normal (57.1%). Significant correlations were found between gadget addiction and emotional condition on the difficulties scale (r=-0.756; p<0.001) and strengths scale (r=-0.628; p<0.001). Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between gadget addiction levels and emotional conditions among eighth-grade students of Yos Sudarso Junior High School in Batam City. Higher gadget addiction levels were associated with greater emotional problems.     Keywords: Gadget Addiction; Adolescent Emotional Condition; SAV-SV; SDQ.