Abuse of technology in adolescence and its relation to social and emotional competencies, emotions in online communication, and bullying

Information and communication technologies can be used for prosocial and educational purposes but they can also be misused or abused. Although technology abuse is a serious problem among youth, the number of studies on risk and protective factors against this problem behavior is still low. Thus, our aim was to describe and analyze the relations between abuse of technology and social and emotional competencies, emotional content in online communication, and bullying. This was a cross-sectional study with a representative sample of 2139 adolescents enrolled in 22 secondary schools in Andalusia (Spain). Correlation and regression analyses were performed, together with structural equation modeling, to discover relations among these variables. High level of social and emotional competencies was related to less technology abuse. Using emotional content in online communication and bullying victimization, and perpetration were related to more technology abuse. These findings provide new insights on risk and protective factors against technology abuse and might be useful for prevention and intervention in this problem behavior. •The study focuses on risk and protective factors against technology abuse.•High level of social and emotional competencies is related to less technology abuse.•Involvement in bullying is related to more technology abuse.•Expression and use of emotional content online relates to more technology abuse.•Promoting social and emotional competencies against technology abuse is suggested.