A QUANTITATIVE CORRELATIONAL STUDY OF PARENTAL NEGLECT, CONDUCT PROBLEMS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION AMONG ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

One of the common illnesses among adolescents is conduct disorder. Parental neglect is one of the risk factor for development of behavioral problems in teenagers. Although social media addiction discipline is comparatively new, facts reveal prevalence of social media disorder especially in teenagers. The objective of this research was to find out the relationship of parental neglect, conduct problems and social media addiction among adolescents and to examine role of demographic characteristics (socio-economic status, institution and parental education) in predicting conduct problems. Quantitative study was conducted on 370 adolescent students from different schools of Punjab and KP.Sample size was calculated using Cochran’s sample size formula. Multi dimensional Parent Neglect Scale, Social Media Addiction Scale- Student Form and Conduct Problems Scale were used. Purposive sample comprised of social media addicts = 186, non-social media addicts = 184; girls n= 113, boys n= 73; age ranged 11-19 years. Analyses revealed significant positive relationship of parental neglect with conduct problems and social media addiction. Conduct problems also had significant positive relationship with social media addiction. Age had statistically significant positive correlation with PN, CP and SMA. Social media addicts showed more conduct problems as compared to non-addicts. Socio economic status and mother educational level positively predicted conduct problems. Study recommends intervention strategies for parents to improve their child rearing practices, set boundaries and restrict the use of social media to overcome conduct problems.