The District Chronicles

Issue date: 9/20/09 Section: Student Life

Over half (54 percent) reported that they were "neglecting important areas of their life" due to spending too much time on these sites. And when asked if one were to define addiction as "any behavior you cannot stop, regardless of the consequences," 12.7 percent affirmed that they believe they are addicted to some form of electronic activity. Another 8.7 percent report that they are unsure. For small campuses, that translates into large numbers. And 21 percent felt that their level of engagement with electronic activities at times caused a conflict with their Christian values. The students' voices--and solutions--themselves add perspective to the study. Some described regular fasts from Facebook, avoiding places with Internet access, deleting their Facebook accounts altogether, or imposing self-limits. "During the critical years of young adulthood, Christian college students need to be mindful that academic and social development are important, yet incomplete in terms of nurturing the whole person. The spiritual condition also needs attention," said Coleman. "Since the evidence from this study raises several concerns for their time management skills, possible neglect of important areas in their lives and their psychological and spiritual health, the next question needs to be, how can we help?"

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