THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIGITAL MEDIA UTILIZATION AND THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF ELEVENTH-GRADE STUDENTS AT IMMANUEL CHRISTIAN PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the relationship between the utilization of digital media and the spiritual growth of eleventh-grade students at Immanuel Christian Private High School Medan in 2023. The research was conducted among students of class XI during June–July 2023. The population consisted of 30 students, and due to the relatively small number, the entire population was used as the research sample through a census sampling technique. In this study, digital media utilization functions as the independent variable, while students’ spiritual growth is treated as the dependent variable. Data were collected using structured questionnaires distributed to all respondents. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and Spearman Rank correlation analysis (rs) to determine the strength and direction of the relationship between variables. The findings indicate that digital media utilization has a positive and statistically significant relationship with the spiritual growth of students, as evidenced by the calculated t value of 6.75 which is greater than the critical t value at the 0.05 significance level (2.045). These results suggest that the appropriate use of digital media can contribute positively to the development of students’ spiritual values and attitudes.