Digital dementia in adults: an assessment of digital generations.

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to examine the level of digital dementia (DD) in adults and related socio-demographic and smartphone addiction factors.

METHODS

The study was conducted between June and September 2025 in western Türkiye and included individuals who applied to selected family health centres. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic information, behaviour-related items, the Digital Dementia Scale Adult Form (DDAF) and Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS). This study evaluated participants according to digital generations.

RESULTS

The mean DDAF score was 40.56 ± 21.18 among digital natives (18-29 years), 34.93 ± 21.88 among the digital transition generation (30-44 years), and 25.17 ± 18.59 among digital immigrants (45-70 years) (p < 0.001). DDAF scores were significantly higher among participants without children (40.59 ± 21.47), unmarried individuals (40.86 ± 21.40), university graduates (36.65 ± 20.63), students (43.15 ± 20.17), and those living in low socioeconomic regions (41.72 ± 20.50), with sleep onset latency > 30 minutes (44.61 ± 24.05), those who used smartphones within 30 minutes after waking (37.77 ± 21.53), those who always used smartphones before sleep (40.80 ± 21.02), those who relied on smartphones for simple tasks and definitions (52.50 ± 17.03), and those who experienced phone-related health problems (43.38 ± 20.55) (p < 0.001). In the final linear regression model, being a digital native, unmarried status, prolonged sleep onset latency, using smartphones for simple tasks and definitions, experiencing phone-related health problems, smartphone use before sleep, and smartphone addiction were identified as independent predictors of higher DD levels (adjusted R2 = 0.681, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results reveal that digital risks are linked not only to demographic characteristics but more to digital behaviour patterns. Increasing digital awareness across all segments of society, especially among young individuals, promoting digital detox approaches, and developing behavioural intervention programmes are crucial for reducing digital addiction and the risk of digital dementia.