As the time spent on digital media usage (DMU) has increased in recent years, there has been growing concern about problematic usage. The overuse of digital media affects up to a quarter of adolescents, although excessive DMU is not always associated with problematic use, a defining feature of which may be a loss of self-control. This study aims to clarify how self-regulatory mechanisms, such as trait self-control, sense of control, and self-regulation of digital media use, are related to risky DMU (excessive internet use and impulsive DMU) as well as time spent on DMU. We draw on a representative sample of 2,697 adolescents aged 11-15 years (mean age = 12.9) attending grade 2 primary schools. Our results show that adolescents with higher levels of self-control as well as a greater sense of control exhibit lower levels of risk-taking (excessive internet use and impulsive digital media use and screen time). Furthermore, increased levels of self-control as well as a greater sense of control predict higher levels of self-regulation in digital media contexts. The findings of this study provide insights regarding the importance of strengthening self-control, especially for at-risk users, and offer a perspective on the role of self-regulatory mechanisms in managing digital behavior. These factors can significantly contribute to better self-regulation of adolescents' digital behavior.

Department of Pedagogical Sciences Faculty of Humanities Tomas Bata University in Zlín Zlín Czechia

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