Impact of Coding Educational Programs (CEP) on Digital Media Problematic Use (DMPU) and on Its Relationship with Psychological Dependence and Emotional Dysregulation

Pier Luigi Marconi, Rosamaria Scognamiglio, Elisabetta Marchiori, Daniele Angeloni, Maria Lidia Mascia () and Maria Pietronilla Penna
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Pier Luigi Marconi: Artemis Neurosciences, 00184 Rome, Italy
Rosamaria Scognamiglio: Artemis Neurosciences, 00184 Rome, Italy
Elisabetta Marchiori: Italian Psychoanalytic Association, 00189 Rome, Italy
Daniele Angeloni: Docendum, 00195 Rome, Italy
Maria Lidia Mascia: Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Maria Pietronilla Penna: Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-22

Abstract: Alongside the positive effects linked to the introduction of digital technologies into our lives, particular dysfunctional behaviors in the use of digital tools have appeared, through which the expression of conditions such as addiction, difficulties in affective and behavioral self-regulation and mental health problems have been channeled. The present study aims to investigate, in a sample of young students aged m = 12.91 (ds = 0.56) years, whether Coding Educational Programs (CEP), deployed to 44.9% of the sample, is effective in psychological dependence, emotional self-regulation and Digital Media Problematic Use (DMPU), as self-assessed through questionnaires (DERS, DSRS, IAT, MPIQ and MPPUS). CEP had no effect on emotional dysregulation or on DMPU. They were effective in the time management of mobile phone use, with students rescheduling from daytime use on working days to daytime use on the weekend. Moreover, people who attended CEP more frequently used smartphones for orienting themselves and for obtaining information. In conclusion, CEP are effective in achieving a more functional and important use of smartphones and better time management. It is possible that CEP effect on metacognition could reduce DMPU if alternative ways to regulate emotions are available.

Keywords: digital education; digital training; Internet use; smartphone use; addiction; emotion regulation; coding educational programs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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