The role of social support and digital addiction in fostering purpose in life among adolescents

This study investigates the influence of social support and digital addiction in the development of purpose in life (PIL) among adolescents aged 16-18 years. Utilizing a descriptive cross-sectional design, data was collected from 500 adolescents (250 males and 250 females) attending rural and urban government senior secondary schools in Punjab. The study employed three validated instruments: the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (CASSS) to measure perceived social support, the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) to assess digital addiction, and the Youth Purpose in Life Scale to evaluate PIL. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and multiple regression analyses were used to explore the relationships between the key variables. Results indicate significant gender differences, with females reporting higher levels of social support and purpose in life, while males exhibited higher levels of digital addiction. Social support, particularly from teachers, parents, and close friends, was positively associated with PIL. Conversely, digital addiction, particularly excessive use, neglect of work, and social life, was negatively associated with PIL. The regression model explained 31.7% of the variance in PIL, underscoring the crucial role of supportive relationships and the detrimental impact of digital addiction on adolescents’ sense of purpose. The study highlights the need for interventions that promote healthy social support networks and address digital addiction to foster a meaningful life purpose among adolescents.