Factors Correlated with Digital Competency Among Youth in the 21st Century: A Meta-Analysis
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Abstract
Digital competency (DC) is widely recognized as a foundational skill for 21st-century citizens, encompassing technical proficiency, critical thinking, and responsible use of digital tools. This study conducted a meta-analysis to quantitatively synthesize the relationship between various factors and youth DC, following the PRISMA guidelines. The meta-analysis included 42 eligible studies comprising 49 effect sizes focusing on youth (ages 12–24). A random-effects model revealed a large, significant positive correlation between the examined factors and youth digital competency (r=.525, Fisher's z = 0.583, p<.001). However, extremely high heterogeneity was detected (I2=99.49%). Key subgroup analysis was performed comparing factor types: Internal/Individual Variables (e.g., self-efficacy, cognitive skills) showed an estimated average correlation of z=0.475, which was comparable in magnitude to environmental, social norms, and other variables (e.g., parental mediation, SES), which showed z=0.481. The findings confirm the overall importance of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors in shaping DC, while the high variance suggests a strong need to identify contextual and methodological moderators.
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