Screen Time in Relation to the Manifestation of Different Types of Aggression in Older Adolescence

Background. In recent decades, there has been a rapid increase in the importance of the Internet in adolescents' lives. However, data on the relationship between screen time duration and various risks of well-being are inconsistent. Therefore, further clarification of this relationship is needed, particularly in the context of specifying types of aggression. Objective. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between different types of adolescent aggression, including physical aggression, anger, hostility and the time they spend in front of screens. Study Participants. The study involved 10 980 adolescents from 10 regions of the Russian Federation aged 15 to 18 years (Mage = 15.9 years; SD = ± 0.92; 6096 girls). Methods. The level of adolescent aggression was assessed with the Bass-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). Adolescents’ internet activity was evaluated by analyzing their responses to the question “How much time do you spend on the Internet every day?” To analyze and process quantitative data we used descriptive statistics, crosstabs, correlation analysis and one-way analysis of variance (A posteriori comparisons were performed using the Student’s t-test with the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons). Results. The study found that adolescents’ online activity is quite high. Additionally, one in six adolescents aged 15 to 18 years has a high propensity for physical aggression and anger, while one in seven has a tendency towards hostility. The results of the comparative analysis demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between aggression and online activity. It has been shown that adolescents with high levels of aggression manifestations, spend significantly more time online as compared to those with low or medium levels. Conclusions. The study established a correlation between teenagers’ screen time and the severity of manifestation of various types of aggression. Based on this, there is a need to develop and implement strategies to help teens resist the negative effects of excessive screen time and reduce aggression, while promoting positive individual development.