Digital Detox Among Adolescents at Summer Camp: Nursing Implications

Computer and internet addiction as well as compulsive social media use have become significant problems for adolescents. Residential summer camps offer the opportunity for campers to experience a digital detox in a supportive setting where digital devices are not available. A retrospective chart analysis of health clinic logs for campers ages 8-18 at an 8-day residential Christian athletic summer camp in 2023 asked: What percentage of summer camp health clinic visits were due to symptoms consistent with technology withdrawal, and did health clinic utilization differ based on gender? Visits for sleep (6%) and anxiety (2%) symptoms had the highest likelihood of being consistent with symptoms of technology withdrawal; female campers had more clinic visits than males. Nursing interventions for camp health concerns and the relevance of biblical spiritual care for adolescent campers are discussed.