Socioeconomic status and educational inequality: digital competency pathways to creative problem-solving and academic performance

Findings demonstrate how SES-based resource disparities create differential competency acquisition in digital learning environments, providing cumulative advantages in creative problem-solving. This dual-pathway model supports social cognitive theory by showing how SES shapes competency development through digital use behaviors, while advancing digital divide theory through sequential mechanisms across multiple levels. These findings provide practical guidance for educational institutions to collaborate with parents in designing programs that foster digital competency development through sustained technology engagement for higher-order cognitive outcomes.