INTRODUCTION: Gadget use with its diverse range of functions from communication to navigation and
entertainment, has brought increasing concerns about its effects on psychological health. Despite
growing evidence on its effect among children, its effect on the adolescent age group, particularly on
the socio-emotional dimension remains uncertain.

METHOD: An analytical cross-sectional study was done to identify a possible association between duration
of gadget use and socio-emotional difficulties of an adolescent. A cluster sample of junior high school
students aged 13-17 years old from four selected private schools were invited to answer the Strengths
and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to measure socio-emotional difficulties and provide information on
the type and duration of gadget use. Scores derived from the SDQ were classified as normal, borderline
and abnormal based on the questionnaire's scoring guide. Association between duration of gadget use
and strengths and difficulties was tested using chi-square, controlling for sex and age groups.

RESULTS: Majority of the 315 respondents had normal scores on the strengths and difficulties sub-scales.
Regardless of the duration of gadget use, majority of the respondents had normal prosocial behavior
and likewise scored normal on all dimensions of the Difficulties subscale. There was no significant
association between duration of gadget use and Strength (p = 0.47) and Difficulties scores (p = 0.35).
Stratifying by sex and age groups likewise resulted in insignificant associations (p > 0.05). Those with
prolonged gadget use were 1.68 times more likely to have abnormal scores on the Difficulties subscale
compared with those with normal gadget use but the association was not significant (95% CI 0.82, 3.34).

CONCLUSION: There was no significant association between duration of gadget use and socio-emotional
difficulties of adolescents in selected private schools, controlling for sex and age groups.