The degree of relative contribution of digital addiction to mental wandering among a sample of secondary school students

Abstract

The present study sought to assess the prevalence of digital addiction and mental wandering among secondary school students in Jordan, as well as to elucidate the extent to which digital addiction contributes to mental wandering. Additionally, it aimed to investigate potential differences in mental wandering levels based on gender and academic branch, as well as the interaction between these variables. The study sample comprised 308 male and female students from the second secondary grade. To fulfill the study's objectives, a digital addiction scale and a mental wandering scale were employed. The findings revealed that the level of digital addiction was moderate, while the level of mental wandering was elevated. Statistically significant differences were observed in total mental wandering levels attributed to gender, favoring males, and differences were noted according to academic branch, favoring the scientific branch. Furthermore, differences emerged from the interaction between gender and academic branch, again favoring male students in the scientific branch. The study's results also indicated that digital addiction accounted for 48% of the variance in mental wandering.