One-third of adolescents in city addicted to gadgets, finds Rinpas study

Ranchi: Nearly one-third of adolescents in the city aged between 13 and 18 years are addicted to gadgets, a study by the Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (Rinpas) has revealed.

Using randomised sampling, researchers mapped 390 students from various higher secondary schools across the state capital. Out of them, 117 adolescents reported severe internet and smartphone addiction. Data was gathered using sociodemographic datasheets, internet and smartphone addiction tests, and a parental bonding scale.

The study, conducted by Dr Amool Ranjan and Dr Deblina Das and published in the Eastern Journal of Psychiatry, stated that an adolescent’s gender or financial background plays absolutely no role in digital dependency. Instead, the root cause lies within the family dynamics. “What actually led to higher addiction in adolescents was parental bonding, or the lack thereof,” said Ranjan.

The study indicated that family structures and parents’ marital status are pivotal in shaping smartphone habits. Lack of parental care coupled with overprotection emerged as a dangerous trigger, with excessive monitoring directly driving youngsters towards their screens. Conversely, larger families, where members assist in child-rearing, acted as natural shields against internet or gadget addiction.

Ranjan said, “Addiction to gadgets was significantly higher in children who came from nuclear families, had both parents working, belonged to single-parent households, or lived in hostels, when compared to those residing in joint or larger families.”

For youngsters, the digital escape quickly spiralled into a psychological trap. Participants in the study admitted to severe social isolation, dwindling family interactions, disrupted sleep cycles, and a sharp decline in academic performance. Many said they were no longer capable of managing their emotions without reaching for a digital device.

While most adolescents were fully aware of the excessive screen time and desperately wanted to cut back, they found themselves completely powerless to do so. This inability triggered immense guilt, frustration, and a sense of dependency, mirroring the classic ambivalence seen in substance abuse.

To combat the crisis, the study isolated 100 students who clocked the highest screen time, ranging from six to ten hours a day, and enrolled them in a tailored therapeutic transformation programme.

“By utilising techniques like urge management, structured daily routines, and healthy emotional expression, the teenagers reported a gradual rise in self-regulation. A collaborative, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship proved vital in boosting their motivation to change,” Ranjan said.

The detox drive helped the youngsters reclaim their lives. Ranjan said that by the end of the study, an average reduction of 2.5 hours of gadget dependence was witnessed, with some participants slashing their daily usage by 3 to 4 hours.