Association between Digital Addiction Subtype and Emotional Intelligence among Preservice Teachers in Ghana

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Association between Digital Addiction Subtype and Emotional Intelligence among Preservice Teachers in Ghana
Language: English
Authors: Esi Eduafua Johnson (ORCID 0000-0002-5624-1802), Paa Kwame Baah (ORCID 0000-0002-6786-284X), Harry Barton Essel (ORCID 0000-0001-7232-3640), Akosua Tachie-Menson (ORCID 0000-0001-6727-4151), Ama Amponsah Dwamena (ORCID 0009-0002-7718-6897), Vicentia Okpattah Wemegah (ORCID 0000-0002-9521-4145), Akwasi Adomako Boakye (ORCID 0009-0007-7733-1042)
Source: Discover Education. 2026 5.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Addictive Behavior, Information Technology, Emotional Intelligence, Correlation, Telecommunications, Handheld Devices, Computer Use, Preservice Teachers, Predictor Variables
Geographic Terms: Ghana
DOI: 10.1007/s44217-026-01433-w
ISSN: 2731-5525
Abstract: There has been an increase in studies investigating the impact of technology on human mental health in recent years. Although DA and emotional intelligence are issues of reference among university preservice teachers, the relationship between these phenomena has yet to be studied. This study examined the relationship between digital addiction subtypes estimated with Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Internet Gaming Disorder Scale--Short-Form (IGDS9-SF), Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire Short Form (PIUS-SF-9) and emotional intelligence estimated with the Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale-10 (BEIS-10). 220 preservice teachers between the ages of 18 to 24 years completed self-report scales to measure these factors. The results illustrated that all the digital addiction subtypes were negatively associated with the dimensions of emotional intelligence. Furthermore, the subtypes of digital addiction were significant predictors of emotional intelligence, explaining 35.9% of the total variance (R[superscript 2] = 0.359). Besides, smartphone addiction was the strongest predictor of emotional intelligence, 28.3% total variance explained (R[superscript 2] = 0.283). These results indicate that emotional intelligence is a unique resource which has a critical protective function against the vulnerability of digital addiction in preservice teachers. Digital addiction prevention implications are highlighted.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 20260101
Accession Number: EJ1513954
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:There has been an increase in studies investigating the impact of technology on human mental health in recent years. Although DA and emotional intelligence are issues of reference among university preservice teachers, the relationship between these phenomena has yet to be studied. This study examined the relationship between digital addiction subtypes estimated with Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Internet Gaming Disorder Scale--Short-Form (IGDS9-SF), Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire Short Form (PIUS-SF-9) and emotional intelligence estimated with the Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale-10 (BEIS-10). 220 preservice teachers between the ages of 18 to 24 years completed self-report scales to measure these factors. The results illustrated that all the digital addiction subtypes were negatively associated with the dimensions of emotional intelligence. Furthermore, the subtypes of digital addiction were significant predictors of emotional intelligence, explaining 35.9% of the total variance (R[superscript 2] = 0.359). Besides, smartphone addiction was the strongest predictor of emotional intelligence, 28.3% total variance explained (R[superscript 2] = 0.283). These results indicate that emotional intelligence is a unique resource which has a critical protective function against the vulnerability of digital addiction in preservice teachers. Digital addiction prevention implications are highlighted.
ISSN:2731-5525
DOI:10.1007/s44217-026-01433-w