{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T06:13:12Z","timestamp":1788415992467,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788393600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Adolescents are embedded in digital environments that are increasingly central to social, academic, and emotional life. Yet the developmental implications of digital engagement remain contested, particularly when exposure metrics such as screen time are used as primary indicators. The present study examined digital engagement as a multidimensional construct while treating regulatory difficulty\u2014the dimension most directly reflecting impaired control and difficulty disengaging\u2014as the focal predictor of aggression, achievement motivation, and objectively measured academic performance.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Participants were 309 secondary school students in eastern China (Mage = 14.52 years) who completed self-report measures of dysregulated digital engagement, multidimensional aggression, and achievement motivation; official semester GPA was obtained from school records. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to evaluate the measurement structure of the scales. Correlational analyses and classroom-cluster-adjusted hierarchical modeling were used to examine associations between regulatory difficulty and the study outcomes while accounting for demographic and design-related covariates, total aggression, and achievement motivation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Confirmatory factor analyses supported the measurement structure of all scales. Correlational analyses indicated that dysregulated engagement was positively associated with aggression and negatively associated with achievement motivation and GPA. In the classroom-cluster-adjusted hierarchical model, regulatory difficulty showed a modest incremental negative association with GPA after demographic and design-related covariates, total aggression, and achievement motivation were statistically accounted for.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Findings are consistent with a self-regulation perspective and indicate that dysregulated characteristics of digital engagement are meaningfully associated with adolescent academic functioning. Because digital exposure duration was not independently assessed, the present findings should be interpreted as complementing, rather than directly contrasting with, screen-time research. These findings highlight the potential value of focusing on digital self-regulation, rather than exposure duration alone, in future research and educational practice.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1896602","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T05:21:06Z","timestamp":1788412866000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["When digital engagement becomes dysregulated: associations with aggression, achievement motivation, and academic performance in adolescents"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Minghua","family":"Dong","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Suzhou Institute of Trade & Commerce","place":["Suzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Huitao","family":"He","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Business, Soochow University","place":["Suzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bowen","family":"Wei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China","place":["Beijing, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.1038\/s41562-018-0506-1","article-title":"The association between adolescent well-being and digital technology use","volume":"3","author":"Orben","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nat Hum Behav"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e56","DOI":"10.1111\/cdev.13007","article-title":"Digital screen time limits and young children\u2019s psychological well-being: evidence from a population-based study","volume":"90","author":"Przybylski","year":"2019","journal-title":"Child Dev"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pmedr.2018.10.003","article-title":"Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: evidence from a population-based study","volume":"12","author":"Twenge","year":"2018","journal-title":"Prev Med Rep"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10763","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-67727-7","article-title":"The effect of social media on well-being differs from adolescent to adolescent","volume":"10","author":"Beyens","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copsyc.2021.08.017","article-title":"Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: an umbrella review of the evidence","volume":"44","author":"Valkenburg","year":"2022","journal-title":"Curr Opin Psychol"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1233303","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2023.1233303","article-title":"Investigating links between internet literacy, internet use, and internet addiction among Chinese youth and adolescents in the digital age","volume":"14","author":"Jiang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Psych"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.2174\/157340012803520522","article-title":"Problematic use of the mobile phone: a literature review and a pathways model","volume":"8","author":"Billieux","year":"2012","journal-title":"Curr Psychiatr Rev"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"156","DOI":"10.1007\/s40429-015-0054-y","article-title":"Can disordered mobile phone use be considered a behavioral addiction? An update on current evidence and a comprehensive model for future research","volume":"2","author":"Billieux","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr Addict Rep"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2013.10.059","article-title":"A conceptual and methodological critique of internet addiction research: towards a model of compensatory internet use","volume":"31","author":"Kardefelt-Winther","year":"2014","journal-title":"Comput Hum Behav"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103120","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techsoc.2025.103120","article-title":"Being tired but still gaming? Exploring associations between gaming motivations, passion, gaming burnout and quitting intentions","volume":"84","author":"Zhang","year":"2026","journal-title":"Technol Soc"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100257","DOI":"10.1016\/j.abrep.2020.100257","article-title":"Passive objective measures in the assessment of problematic smartphone use: a systematic review","volume":"11","author":"Ryding","year":"2020","journal-title":"Addict Behav Rep"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"356","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-019-2350-x","article-title":"Prevalence of problematic smartphone usage and associated mental health outcomes amongst children and young people: a systematic review, meta-analysis and GRADE of the evidence","volume":"19","author":"Sohn","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph14030311","article-title":"Social networking sites and addiction: ten lessons learned","volume":"14","author":"Kuss","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"410","DOI":"10.1556\/2006.2020.00023","article-title":"Comparing generalized and specific problematic smartphone\/internet use: longitudinal relationships between smartphone application-based addiction and social media addiction and psychological distress","volume":"9","author":"Chen","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Behav Addict"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1004","DOI":"10.1007\/s10597-019-00422-8","article-title":"Investigation of problematic mobile phones use and fear of missing out (FoMO) level in adolescents","volume":"55","author":"Coskun","year":"2019","journal-title":"Community Ment Health J"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1121","DOI":"10.3390\/bs15081121","article-title":"Differential effects of short- and long-term negative affect on smartphone usage: the moderating role of locus of control","volume":"15","author":"Chu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105213","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2024.105213","article-title":"How does social support detected automatically in discussion forums relate to online learning burnout? The moderating role of students\u2019 self-regulated learning","volume":"227","author":"Huang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Comput Educ"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1002\/hbe2.229","article-title":"The influence of technology on academic distraction: a review","volume":"3","author":"Dontre","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hum Behav Emerg Technol"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"912","DOI":"10.1002\/hbe2.254","article-title":"Objectively-measured and self-reported smartphone use in relation to surface learning, procrastination, academic productivity, and psychopathology symptoms in college students","volume":"3","author":"Elhai","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hum Behav Emerg Technol"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101618","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijer.2020.101618","article-title":"Smartphone use and academic performance: a literature review","volume":"103","author":"Amez","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Educ Res"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2017.08.039","article-title":"A meta-analysis of the relationship of academic performance and social network site use among adolescents and young adults","volume":"77","author":"Liu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Comput Hum Behav"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"452","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.63.3.452","article-title":"The aggression questionnaire","volume":"63","author":"Buss","year":"1992","journal-title":"J Pers Soc Psychol"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2018.11.048","article-title":"Children\u2019s use of mobile devices, smartphone addiction and parental mediation in Taiwan","volume":"93","author":"Chang","year":"2019","journal-title":"Comput Hum Behav"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1111889","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1111889","article-title":"Internet gaming disorder and aggression: a meta-analysis of teenagers and young adults","volume":"11","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1207\/S15327965PLI1104_01","article-title":"The \u201cwhat\u201d and \u201cwhy\u201d of goal pursuits: human needs and the self-determination of behavior","volume":"11","author":"Deci","year":"2000","journal-title":"Psychol Inq"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1003","DOI":"10.1177\/0013164492052004025","article-title":"The academic motivation scale: a measure of intrinsic, extrinsic, and amotivation in education","volume":"52","author":"Vallerand","year":"1992","journal-title":"Educ Psychol Meas"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s40359-026-05227-5","article-title":"The combined effects of teachers\u2019 caring behavior and academic self-efficacy on the academic achievement of Chinese undergraduates: a fsQCA approach","author":"Tang","year":"2026","journal-title":"BMC Psychol"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1002\/hbe2.171","article-title":"Addictive phone use and academic performance in adolescents","volume":"2","author":"Domoff","year":"2020","journal-title":"Hum Behav Emerg Technol"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105406","DOI":"10.1016\/j.childyouth.2020.105406","article-title":"Mobile phone addiction and school performance among Chinese adolescents from low-income families: a moderated mediation model","volume":"118","author":"Bai","year":"2020","journal-title":"Child Youth Serv Rev"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"867","DOI":"10.3390\/bs14100867","article-title":"Social media use and academic performance in Chinese children and adolescents: a moderated chain mediation model","volume":"14","author":"Hou","year":"2024","journal-title":"Behav Sci"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1896602\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T05:21:07Z","timestamp":1788412867000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1896602\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"references-count":30,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1896602"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1896602","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"article-number":"1896602"}}