(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
Doha: A first-of-its-kind piece of research has explored the excessive use of digital devices - especially those that connect to the internet - among adolescents in Qatar, and the effect it has on their health, education and family relationships.
According to the parents surveyed, the children suffer from physical and mental health issues such as insomnia, obesity, stress and depression as a result of overusing digital devices. These children also have lower academic performance, are socially shy, and engage in frequent conflicts with family members.
The aim of the study is to raise awareness of, and build specialized services, for treating digital addiction in Qatar. The first of the three-part study surveyed parents on their assessment of their adolescent children's digital device use. The findings were presented and discussed during this year's WISE Summit.
The joint study is conducted by the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), Doha International Families Institute (DIFI) and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and WISE all members of Qatar Foundation (QF).
'We want to understand the impact of digital addiction among adolescents within the socio-cultural context of Qatar,' said Dr. Rayan Ali, Professor of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering at QF's HBKU, speaking at the Summit.
WISH Research Manager, Dr. Sana Al Harahsheh said: 'The first part of our study took parents' perspective on the subject. The results show that excessive use of technology is a widespread issue in Qatar among adolescents. We also found that parents need help addressing the issue but over 98 percent of them are unaware of the services currently available in Qatar while some of them hesitate to seek help due to the social stigma attached to seeking mental health treatment.”
'One of the most important results from this study was the amount of time that children spend using digital devices: more than four to five hours a day. Parents have reported that the children usually suffer from lack of sleep, lack of concentration and a general disinterest in family gatherings,' Dr. Azza Abdelmoneium, Director of Research Department, DIFI, added.
Currently, Behavioral Healthcare Center (DAAM), Protection and Social Rehabilitation Center (AMAN) and the Family Consulting Center (Wifaq) offer several assistive services including behavioral, mental, and social initiatives. However, a specialized program to treat digital addiction is not available. Based on the key findings of the full study, the researchers aim to collaborate with all stakeholders to develop specialized treatment programs in Qatar and to advise on national policies.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reliance on technology for work and education has increased. Speakers agreed that monitoring the excessive usage of digital devices and studying its impact is vital, so that the necessary preventative measures as well as tailored solutions can be put in place.
To raise public awareness on the subject of digital addiction and to reduce social stigma around seeking help, collaboration is key. It is essential to engage academics, tech developers, telecommunication companies, schools, parents and government to understand and address the issue.
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