Background of the Study
Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) is a foundation of the Philippine
educational Course of Study, encompassing a range of technical learning skills derived
from Home Economics, Information and Communication Technology, Agri-Fishery, and
Industrial Arts. The effectiveness of TLE hinges on the mastery of knowledge and
information, effective process implementation, the cultivation of work ethics, and the
development of life skills (Ssemugenyi, 2023). As such, TLE plays a pivotal role in
shaping productive members of the modern society. By selecting a career path and
immersing oneself in the associated technology, individuals can significantly enhance
their career prospects (Jacolbia, 2016).
Mobile phone exposure has become a central part of students' everyday lives in
today’s digital era. The increasing use of technology for academics, entertainment, and
social interactions has significantly impacted the routines of learners. In subjects like
Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE), students heavily rely on digital tools for
accessing learning materials, communication, and skill development. While technology
offers numerous benefits, there is growing concern about the potential negative effects
of prolonged screen time on students' mental and emotional well-being.
Digital devices and online spaces, above all, are considered one of the
fundamental aspects of the existence of this current generation. Rapid advancements in
technology make it possible for consumers in any part of the world, regardless of age, to
experience a wider variety of fast-acting stimuli that are available with similar
accessibility, practically anywhere via mobile devices, enticing them to indulge in the
use of mobile for longer than the suggested two-three hours per day. Computers, and
tablets the heralds of easy-to-use internet hosts have seen increased purchase and
usage in the present times, which has significantly reduced the distance that had once
separated everything and instead turned the world into a community resembling a
global village. (Gadi Lissak 2018)
Smartphone guidelines are a delicate matter since digital technology enables
social connection, which has been especially important since the coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) pandemic began. During this global health crisis, access to digital tools has
been invaluable to not only connect socially and maintain mental health while following
physical distancing public health orders (Manag. 2020, Saskatchewan 2020), While
higher volumes of digital device usage and screen time accumulation have become
inevitable, it is critical to understand how smartphone screen time is associated with
health, particularly in a world where digital engagement has become the primary form of
communication (Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2020, Glob. Med. J. 2013)
due to varied motivations such as work, leisure, entertainment, gaming, and social
connection (Int. J. Environ 2019). Such findings can not only support the development
of prevention policies for harmful behaviors but also enable the development of ethical
digital health interventions (J. Med. 2020).
The aggression depicted in video games can lead to violent behavior in young
players. This significant concern needs to be addressed, as players can imitate actions
from the virtual world in real life. (Chandra, A.N.R.; El Jamiy, F.; Reza, H.2019) Virtual
reality (VR) can be an exciting and engaging experience for young adults. However,
excessive usage can lead to cybersickness, a motion sickness caused by exposure to
virtual environments. Symptoms can include nausea, dizziness, and disorientation,
negatively impacting a child’s physical and mental health. (Ramaseri Chandra, et al,.
2022)
Emotion is the complex psycho-physiological experience of an individual’s state
of mind as interaction with biochemical (internal) and environmental (external)
influences. In humans, emotion fundamentally involves “physiological arousal,
expressive behaviors, and conscious experience.” Emotion is associated with mood,
temperament, personality, disposition, and motivation. Motivations direct and energize
behavior, while emotions provide the affective component to motivation, positive or
negative. A related distinction is between the emotion and the results of emotion,
principally behaviors, and emotional expressions. People often behave in certain ways
as a direct result of their emotional state, such as crying, fighting, and fleeing. If one can
have the emotion without a corresponding behavior, then we may consider the behavior
not to be essential to the emotion. (Mamatha, S. L, et al,. 2016).
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of screen time on university
students in their emotional well-being in TLE students at Pangasinan State University,
Bayambang Campus. By examining the extent to which mobile exposure usage effects
their emotional disposition, the study may give hints on how students' welfare and
academic performance can be heightened. The findings of this research would
contribute to formulating recommendations and reliefs that could maintain an ideal
technology reading among the TLE students.
