A study has found that compulsive texting negatively affects teen girls' academic performance. The effect, however, isn't seen in teen boys.
Texting is known to be the most widely-used means of communication among teens nowadays. Although it has some benefits of its own, a recent study has found that compulsive texting is detrimental to the academic performance of teens.
"It appears that it is the compulsive nature of texting, rather than sheer frequency, that is problematic," said study author Kelly M. Lister-Landman, PhD, of Delaware County Community College, as per CBS news. "Compulsive texting is more complex than frequency of texting. It involves trying and failing to cut back on texting, becoming defensive when challenged about the behavior, and feeling frustrated when one can't do it."
The study, published by the American Psychological Association, surveyed more than 400 students that were in grades eight and 11, in a semi-rural area in the Midwest. The researchers used a specially designed scale that asked students regarding compulsive behavior.
Questions included: "How often do you check your texts before doing something else that you need to do?" "How often do you try to cut down the amount of time you spend texting and fail?" and "How often do you find yourself frustrated because you want to text but you have to wait?"
After the survey, the researchers found that both girls and boys send approximately the same amount of texts in a day. However, the academic performance of girls was negatively affected by the compulsive texting behavior. The boys' academics weren't affected.
Lister-Landman suggested that the differences may lie in why boys and girls text. Previous research has shown that boys use digital technology primarily for conveying information, whereas girls use it social interaction and to nurture relationships.
"Girls in this developmental stage also are more likely than boys to ruminate with others, or engage in obsessive, preoccupied thinking, across contexts," said Lister-Landman. "Therefore, it may be that the nature of the texts girls send and receive is more distracting, thus interfering with their academic adjustment."
According to Daily Mail, the study authors suggest that a larger study about the subject is needed, to explore teens' "motivations for texting, as well as the impact of multitasking on academic performance."
For parents who suspect that compulsive texting is negatively affecting their teens, Lister-Landman gives some recommendations.
"We recommend that parents encourage open lines of communication with their teens about texting behaviors and ask general questions to understand their teens' frequency of use and any indicators of compulsive use," Lister-Landman told CBS News.
Additionally, if texting seems to interfere with teens' normal habits such as sleeping, or if they report stress, parents should intervene, she said.
