A cross-sectional study to assess the addiction towards digital gadgets using digital addiction scale among young adults

Introduction: In today's hyper-connected world, digital gadgets have become an integral part of everyday life, particularly among young adults. From smartphones, laptops to tablets and gaming consoles, these devices offer a multitude of functionalities that enhance communication, entertainment, and productivity. However, alongside the benefits, there's a growing concern about the addictive nature of these gadgets and their potential impact on the well-being of young adults. Aim:To evaluate the addiction towards digital gadgets among young adults. Methods: Non experimental research design andPurposive Sampling technique were used; 1100 people who meet the inclusion criteria make up the study's sample size. Quantitative research strategies using Digital Addiction Scale (DAS) questionnaire. The DAS is scored (1–5), the mean score is (3), and >3 is considered high risk of digital addiction; <3 is considered low risk of digital addiction. Results: The majority of participants (74%) were between the age group of 18-26 years, with UG persue (96%). The most commonly used gadgets was smart phone (96%). The maximum hours of use are 2-5 hours (97%), with the primary objective being socialmedia (79%). The study found; the level of addiction was mild (7%), Moderate (51%), severe (34%) and Very severe (8%). It illustrates the severity of addiction; the number of severe and very severely addicted participants (42%) as severity rate. Mild and moderate are removed to focus on severity of the prevalence. Conclusion: The study concluded that 42% of individuals are significantly addicted towards digital gadgets.