The Contribution of Technology to Student Stress - Essay Example

?04 December, Modern Technological Stressors and Distractions of the College Introduction It is a common saying that “Give a person a fish and feed them for a day; teach that person to use the internet and they won’t bother you for weeks”, in fact they won’t bother you at all again. Modern technology has engrossed lives to an extent that it has become integral part of our daily lives. We wake up in the morning with Smartphone in hand and browsing our inboxes and sleep at night with the same activity. Modern technology has engulfed us to a level that not a single minute passes by without a beep from our phones informing us of a new text message, an e-mail, a status update or comment on social network site etc. Such notifications from our phones have changed our attitude to everything that surrounds us including our social behaviors as well as academic and professional behaviors. Modern Technology Distractions Growing up in a world surrounded with gadgets to keep you distracted from the real world has made lasting impacts on our youth. Even the school and college hours are also spent texting the friends in different classes or courses in same institutes and chatting online or interacting in social networks or surfing web. This is not only affecting their academic performances but also making them attention deficit to some levels. Although this new generation is apt in multitasking due to excessive use of internets and smart phones in their lives, this however is making them loose the ability to prioritize their school and college commitments as well as social responsibilities. The internet, a useful tool in learning and acquiring knowledge when used in proper ways however has the ability to distract its user easily. Students in this technological world prefer to use internet instead of libraries to search for the required sources and materials for their school/ college assignments and home works. But they spend hours on internet without even realizing sometimes, on social networks or surfing through net. As it is so easy to divert from the primary focus on college work when using internet, as most students simultaneously open number of windows or tabs while doing their assignments or researches such as social networking sites like Facebook / Site-Talk or other sites like YouTube that may not be related to their work. While doing so, they keep on clicking the several other unrelated sites and therefore get distracted from their actual work for hours and hours without even realizing at times. In doing so they not only lag behind in time to do the required task but this in turn makes them stressed. When internet usage hinders more than one factor of life like important relationships, profession, physical and mental health or academic performance, than such usage is termed as pathological. Dr. Ivan Goldberg first used the term of “Pathological internet use disorder” to describe the excessive internet use and its negative impacts on individuals. College students are prone to this disorder more because they have not only easy access to internet all the times but they are also required to complete and submit assignments online (DiNicola, 2004). Therefore, this easy access to internet round the clock makes them addicted to it and so eventually distracts them from their work to other more interesting and fascinating sites that drag them away from their tedious college work. The modern technology with the introduction of advanced gadgets on everyday basis is also a major source of procrastination in every field among individuals especially the college students. Not only the internet or computer but the smart phones with most advanced technology along with ipads, iPods as well as video games are all the contributing factors in distracting college students who eventually procrastinate their assignments and college works which ultimately lead to stress and other problems. In colleges students are seen outside classes with headphones in their ears and smart phones or laptops in their hands surrounded with other college mates, conversing online, checking their e-mails or updating or commenting statuses, uploading pictures and texting at the same time. This scenario is the most common in almost all colleges’ word wide now. These students attend classes with the same attitude and it is impossible that a student carrying all or one of these gadgets will not use it during lectures. In fact, the impulse to use the social networking site is so irresistible that they have no other choice but to check out the comments that are being made on their status updates of lecture boring them etc. Negative Effects on Health Researchers are of the view that this modern technology affects the young minds the most. “The risk is that developing brains can become more easily habituated than adult brains to constantly switching tasks-and less able to sustain attention”. The students are constantly doing one or more activity along with their home works and this has become a routine for almost every single student. The findings of Kaiser Family Foundation showed that almost half of students aging from 8 to 18 use internet, watch television or use some other form of media either “most”(31%) or “some’(25%) of the time they do their homework (Richtel, 2010). This modern generation grown up with several gadgets to keep them occupied has even less patience and wants instant results. So for them going through a summary of a book on internet is far better idea than to read the whole book. How can they spend long hours reading a tiresome book when they can know what is in it in lesser time and simultaneously interact with contacts on social networks as well as play a virtual game on-line simultaneously. The time spent on playing video games or on social networks late night affects not only students’ physical and mental health but also affect their academic performances. Due to lack of sleep, students are unable to concentrate fully and devotedly in colleges during lectures and other educational activities. A study conducted in “German sport university cologne” to find the affects of television and video games on sleep and memory of children. The results revealed that playing video games and watching TV negatively affected not only their sleep pattern but also deteriorate verbal cognitive performance. The findings also revealed that excessive and prolonged media consumption results in attention as well as academic problems (Dworak et al, 2007). The multitasking that majority of college students are adapted to makes them less and less able to filter out irrelevant information on the other hand they are easily distracted with new visuals and sounds. They develop a problem of concentration that demands complete and undivided attention. The multitaskers are used to of switching from one window to another. Same is the case while texting on their smart phones. They have number of conversations active at one moment. Use of Prescription Stimulants In order to make up for their lack of concentration the students in turn use different prescription stimulants. “Prescription stimulants are medications designed to increase alertness and concentration by increasing Dopamine levels in the brain”. These are categorized according to their chemical composition and active ingredients. The categories are (i) methylphenidate e.g. Ritalin (ii) Amphetamine salts e.g. Adderall and (iii) Dextroamphetamine e.g. Dexedrine. These medications are usually prescribed to treat ADD and ADHD. Students use these medications to increase the level of their alertness and to gain improvement in concentrations. The students who are prescribed these medications and feel positive effects in turn suggest them to their friends and fellow students with same problems. This divergence of prescription medications can lead to addiction as well as other problems due to over dozing. As when the students suggest or share their medications with other students, it is usually without the information of dosage and other related information (Gallucci, 2011). Earlier coffee and tea was used to keep energized and lower the effects of fatigue. However, people and especially students have turned to medicinal drugs like Adderall and Ritalin as these have far stronger affects than caffeine. More students are using these medications illegal as they increase the performance of students by increasing concentration and decreasing fatigue. As these medications are prescribed after being diagnosed of ADHD other such problems, therefore using these medications without prescription is illegal. As the students use these unnatural ways to improve their ability to concentrate and lessen the problems caused due to prolong use of computers, video games, TV and lack of sleep (University of Penn, 2009). Conclusion It will be foolish to deny the fact that modern technology is all around us and claiming most of our attention. It is impossible to tear away this technology from the youth who grew up in a digital world. However, the problem of separating digital and virtual world from the real world and getting our youth especially the students to spend constructive time in real world as well is not that difficult. It involves some good parenting as well as teaching skills. There is no doubt that a more interactive means of teaching is a dire necessity in these modern times where students can indulge in learning process without having to turn to gadgets to pass a lecture. Works cited 1. DiNicola, Michael D. Pathological Internet Use among College Students: The Prevalence of Pathological Internet Use and its Correlates. Ohio University, 2004. Retrieved from http://etd.ohiolink.edu/send-pdf.cgi/DiNicola%20Michael%20D.pdf?ohiou1088177898 2. Dworak, Markus et al. Impact of Singular Excessive Computer Game and Television Exposure on Sleep Patterns and Memory Performance of School-aged Children. Pediatrics, Vol. 120 No. 5, November 1, 2007. Retrieved from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/5/978.full.pdf+html 3. Gallucci, Andrew R. A Survey Examining the Nonmedical Use and Diversion of Prescription Stimulant Medications Among College Students Using the Theory of Planned Behavior. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Retrieved from http://acumen.lib.ua.edu/content/u0015/0000001/0000552/u0015_0000001_0000552.pdf 4. Richtel, Matt. Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction. The New York Times, 2010. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/technology/21brain.html?pagewanted=all 5. Study Aids or Cognitive Enhancement? High school Bioethics Project. University of Penn. 2009. Retrieved from http://www.highschoolbioethics.org/briefs/ritalin.asp Read More