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Exploring Digital Literacy and Mental Health among the Tea Tribes Adolescents in Sonitpur District, Assam

Nirmali Puzari, Zulfiqar Ullah Siddiqui
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21013/jems.v21.n3.p7
Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between digital literacy and mental health among the tea tribes adolescents in Sonitpur district, Assam. Although digital literacy is often seen as a protective factor for adolescent well-being, its role in marginalized communities remains underexplored. The study asks: What are the levels of digital literacy and mental health among tea tribe adolescents, and is there a significant relationship between the two? A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design was used. Stratified random sampling selected 200 adolescents (100 boys, 100 girls) from tea garden model high schools. Digital literacy was measured with a self-structured scale (α = .949), and mental health with the Psychological Well-Being Scale (α = .725). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation. Both digital literacy (M = 38.29, SD = 10.78) and mental health (M = 39.61, SD = 4.17) were moderate. Correlation analysis showed a very weak, nonsignificant relationship, r (198) = .013, p = .851. Digital literacy alone does not significantly influence mental health in this group. Broader socio-economic and psychosocial factors must be addressed alongside digital skills to improve adolescent well-being.
Keywords
Digital literacy; Mental health; Adolescents; Tea tribes; Marginalized communities
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