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Alleviating depression only to become problematic mobile phone users: Can face-to-face communication be the antidote?
... Depression, as a mental health disorder, is essentially a disorder of mood or affect; specifically, a depressed mood and a loss of interest or pleasure are the two core symptoms of depression (Paykel, 2008). Research has indicated that a growth mindset of happiness may decrease depression because this mindset may motivate a set of mental processes to secure a desirable end state (Van Tongeren & Burnette, 2018), depression is an undesirable and negative psychological state (Li et al., 2019;Morahan-Martin, 2007), and depression increases adults' internet addiction (Dong et al., 2021;Kim et al., 2015;Wang et al., 2022;Zhao et al., 2023). Thus, it is appropriate to assume that depression can mediate the alleviating effect of a growth mindset of happiness on internet addiction. ...
... As mentioned above, a growth mindset of happiness may motivate a suite of mental processes to secure a desirable end state (Van Tongeren & Burnette, 2018) and promote effective self-regulatory strategies (Burnette et al., 2013). Given that depression is an undesirable and negative psychological state characterized by flaws in self-regulation (Bandura, 1999;Kim et al., 2015;Li et al., 2019;Morahan-Martin, 2007), it conflicts with the motivational function of growth mindsets of happiness. Consequently, a growth mindset is more likely to motivate individuals to actively reduce depressive symptoms. ...
... Moreover, several studies have provided evidence that depression is positively correlated with internet addiction. For example, Kim et al. (2015) reported that adults with severe depression depend on their phones. Similarly, Wang et al. (2022) reported that Chinese emerging adults with high levels of depression overuse their smartphones. ...
Previous research has focused mostly on risk factors that increase an individual’s internet addiction (i.e., excessive use of the internet), and little is known about protective factors. Inspired by the positive spillover effect of happiness mindsets (i.e., beliefs about whether happiness is malleable) and the fact that happiness mindsets are easy to change, the current research with correlational and experimental studies focuses on the protective factor that lessens an individual’s risk of internet addiction by examining the role of happiness mindsets. Additionally, the mediating effect of depression on this association was also examined. In Study 1, a correlational study was conducted to provide initial evidence; happiness mindsets (measured by the 6-item happiness mindsets scale), depression (measured by the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression), internet addiction (measured by the 26-item Revised Chen Internet Addiction Scale), and demographics were surveyed among 1382 emerging adults from China. In Study 2, an experimental study was conducted to provide causal evidence; happiness mindsets were manipulated, and depression and internet addiction were measured. Across two studies, the results revealed that (a) a growth mindset of happiness reduced internet addiction and (b) the alleviating effect of a growth mindset of happiness was mediated by decreased depression. Our results highlight the importance of fostering a growth mindset of happiness to prevent and combat internet addiction among Chinese emerging adults.
... By aligning PSUD with the DSM-5 framework, researchers can draw upon established identification and management strategies for substance dependence to develop evidence-based interventions for smartphone addiction and dependence. 4. The DSM-5 framework has been utilised in various cultural contexts to understand non-substance-related problematic use and behavioural dependencies, including studies conducted in South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Germany [1,51,53,73]. This cross-cultural applicability suggests that the DSM-5 framework can be adapted and applied to different populations, including the Australian context. ...
... By adopting this framework, researchers can build upon established knowledge and interventions, facilitating a better understanding of PSUD and its management. Our study builds upon this framework by adopting a comparative approach used in previous research on non-substance-related problematic use and behavioural dependencies, consistent with the DSM-5 framework [1,51,53,[73][74][75]. By adding additional items to measure PSUD accurately, the study aims to enhance the understanding of problematic smartphone use within the framework. ...
... Finally, the principal component extraction method, along with a Promax rotation method, produced a simple structure without any significant cross-loading with two-factor solutions for the 23 items. This process produced two factors with eigenvalues greater than 1, fulfilling Kaiser's criterion and Cattell's scree plot [78,79] along with parallel analysis and MAP test [80], similar to the factors extracted in the problematic smartphone users study by Kim et al. [2015]. ...
Over the past decade, the world population has experienced rapid and widespread adoption of smartphones due to their usefulness and convenience. However, researchers have identified a range of adverse behaviours associated with the adoption of smartphones and their higher use. These behaviours are collectively described as Problematic Smartphone Use and Dependence (PSUD). Despite growing research, the underlying processes and drivers leading to these behaviours are inadequately understood. This can partly be attributed to the absence of developed statistical tools and measures that allow researchers to build a comprehensive conceptual understanding of PSUD. To address this issue, this study proposes and evaluates a validated extension to the Problematic Use of Mobile Phones (PUMP) scale. The extension of this tool incorporates factors associated with substance dependence outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), including additional items to measure PSUD accurately, referred to as the modified problematic use of mobile phones (MPUMP) scale. The newly developed tool was used in a cross-sectional online survey during September and October 2022, drawing on 1018 adult Australian participants. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) were conducted to derive the underlying factors. The EFA revealed two distinct factors: Distraction and Dysregulation. Both factors exhibited high internal consistency, with Cronbach's Alpha coefficients of 0.92 and 0.86, respectively. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant variations inthe identified factors' mean scores across different socio-demographic characteristics. The study provides evidence that the MPUMP scale is a validated and reliable measure for accurately assessing PSUD. The study findings offer novel insights into the psychosocial and physical aspects of PSUD, providing a foundation for exploring the causes and potential interventions for PSUD.
... Recent studies have increasingly focused on mobile phone addiction and psychological vulnerability. Mobile phone overuse and addiction may serve as a means of avoiding negative events and emotions (Kim et al., 2015). The Individual-Perceptual-Affective-Cognitive-Executive Integration (I-PACE) Model suggests that susceptibility factors in uence mobile phone addiction through cognitive biases related to the Internet, including approach anticipation and avoidance anticipation (Brand et al., 2014). ...
... The Individual-Perceptual-Affective-Cognitive-Executive Integration (I-PACE) Model suggests that susceptibility factors in uence mobile phone addiction through cognitive biases related to the Internet, including approach anticipation and avoidance anticipation (Brand et al., 2014). Avoidance anticipation occurs when individuals, faced with potential outcomes, challenges, or responsibilities, choose to avoid or circumvent these situations rather than face them directly (Kim et al., 2015). This cognitive bias increases craving for mobile phones, fear of negative outcomes, fear of failure, and fear of the unknown, leading individuals to use mobile phones as a means of avoiding communication, responsibilities, and uncertainties. ...
Objective: While mobile phone use facilitates adolescents' access to information, emotional expression, and interpersonal interaction, it also contributes to mobile phone addiction, adversely affecting adolescents' psychological health. Method: This study empirically examines the relationship between psychological vulnerability and mobile phone addiction among 700 rural left-behind children in China. Result: The results indicate that psychological vulnerability significantly contributes to mobile phone addiction; moreover, social anxiety and avoidance expectancy mediate this relationship. Additionally, a mediating chain effect was identified, wherein psychological vulnerability influences mobile phone addiction through social anxiety and avoidance expectancy. Conclusion: The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the impact of mobile phone addiction on the mental health of left-behind children, providing theoretical and practical references for effective interventions targeting mobile phone addiction and associated mental health issues such as anxiety and depression among this population.
... On the other hand, Huang et al. (2023), conducted a study where they observed the effect that an aggressive personality has on problematic internet use and suicidal ideation in adolescents, finding that participants who have more problems with the internet show greater suicidal ideation, with this association being stronger in groups with aggressiveness. These results are consistent with previous research showing that both the frequency of use and the severity of internet addiction are related to higher aggression scores (Kim et al., 2015;Koo & Kwon, 2014). In this sense, internet use seems to facilitate the expression of latent aggressive impulses, such as repressed anger, aggression, or hostility, which are not acceptable in society but can be released in the digital environment; the relief of these emotional states generates a rewarding feeling that seems to lead to addiction (Koo & Kwon, 2014;Fumero et al., 2018). ...
... On the other hand, some authors suggest the reverse hypothesis, that people with depressive symptoms use the internet to reduce negative feelings, a behaviour described by some authors as compensatory internet use. This concept attempts to explain the frequent assumption that individuals turn to the internet to escape real-life problems or alleviate dysphoric moods, a practice that can sometimes lead to negative outcomes (Kim et al., 2015;Kardefelt-Winther, 2014). In the same way, research by Heffer et al. (2019) and Raudsepp and Kais (2019) found that depression led to increased social media use. ...
This study examines the association between problematic internet use, or internet addiction, and adolescent mental health, focusing on key psychological variables, assessing the strength of these associations, and identifying potential moderating factors. Methods: A search of the Web of Science databases over the past five years identified 830 articles. Of these, 33 met the inclusion criteria, involving 303,243 participants (average age 14.57; 49.44% female). The selection process was verified by two researchers. Results: Nine psychological variables were analyzed: depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal behaviour, psychological well-being, self-esteem, externalizing problems, aggressiveness, and impulsiveness. Internet addiction showed positive correlations with aggressiveness (r+ = 0.391), depression (r+ = 0.318), anxiety (r+ = 0.252), and suicidal behaviour (r+ = 0.264). Negative correlations were observed with psychological well-being (r+ = −0.312) and self-esteem (r+ = −0.306). No significant associations were found for externalizing problems, impulsiveness, or stress. None of the moderators showed a significant correlation with internet addiction and depression. Conclusions: Although limited by small sample sizes for some variables and the cross-sectional design of most studies, the findings confirm that there is a negative relationship between internet addiction and adolescent mental health. It is related to poorer self-perceived health, greater psychological distress, and greater aggression.
... Bu yaklaşım, "sorunlu akıllı telefon kullanımı"nın genel olarak "internet kullanım bozukluğu" kavramı altında ele alınabileceği fikrini desteklemektedir (Lapointe, Boudreau-Pinsonneault ve Vaghefi, 2013;Montag, vd., 2019). Bazı araştırmalar, internetin zararlı kullanımı ile akıllı telefonların aşırı kullanımı arasında doğrudan bir ilişki olduğunu göstermektedir (Ezoe vd., 2013;Ha vd., 2008;Kim, Seo ve David, 2015). Bu çalışmalar, bu iki faktör arasında yakın bir ilişki olduğunu vurgulamaktadır. ...
... Her ne kadar tanısal olarak bir bağımlılık türü içerisinde ele alınıp alınamayacağı konusunda farklı görüşler olsa da aşağıda verilen kriterler, bireyin akıllı telefon kullanımı konusunda endişe duyulması ve önlemler alınması gerektiğine ilişkin bilgiler sunmaktadır (Bianchi ve Phillips, 2005;Chóliz, Villanueva ve Chóliz, 2009;Chung vd., 2018;Huang vd., 2014;Kim, Seo ve David, 2015;Kiran, Sanjana ve Reddy, 2019): ...
... Despite the advantages associated with advanced social networking, improved work methods, and increased productivity through smartphone use, previous research indicates that excessive smartphone use negatively impacts individuals' daily lives and physical health [3][4][5]. Furthermore, excessive smartphone use has been associated with mental and behavioral issues, such as changes in attitude towards school or work, reduced and disrupted real-life social interactions, and potential mental health problems . Studies have also linked smartphone addiction to a predisposition to depression, loneliness, anxiety, and sleep disorders [6,7]. ...
... Smartphone use can function as an experiential avoidance strategy to escape from negative mental states [39]. Depressive individuals have been found to use their smartphones as a coping strategy to deal with their negative emotions [5]. When smartphone use is moderate, it can contribute to the improvement of emotional and psychological health and reduce stress levels [40]. ...
Background
Previous studies indicate an increasing prevalence of depression among university students worldwide. Besides, university students are more likely to excessively use smartphones, making them more susceptible to smartphone addiction. Pandemic conditions can also have negative effects on mental health. Thus, this study aims to investigate the frequency of depression among university students during COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
The study population for this mixed-method research, which includes both qualitative and quantitative components, consists of students studying health sciences at a state university in Istanbul, Türkiye. No sample was selected for the quantitative data collection; instead, it was aimed to reach the entire population. Sociodemographic characteristics, the 10-item Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), and the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used. In the qualitative part of our study, semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 12 students. Statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05.
Results
The study, involving 819 students, found that 25.2% had moderate depression and 5.7% had severe depression. A statistically significant relationship was found between self-perceived smartphone addiction and the presence of moderate-severe depression (p < 0.001). Participants who spent more than 4 h a day on their smartphones, those who checked their smartphones more than 30 times a day, those who perceived themselves as smartphone addicts, and those who experienced smartphone-related sleep problems obtained statistically significantly higher scores from BDI compared to others (p < 0.05). According to our qualitative results, some participants thought that smartphone use could cause a depressive mood by isolating people, while others believed it could do so through the negative effects of social media. All participants reported that the quarantine period increased their smartphone usage.
Conclusion
Our results suggest a potential interaction between smartphone addiction and depression. This indicates the potential benefit of assessing and addressing both conditions simultaneously.
... These assertions highlight the potential role of escapism motivation in bridging the connection between psychological issues (e.g., stress, loneliness, anxiety, depression) and problematic media and technology use (e.g., smartphones, video games, social media), which has indeed been corroborated by an array of empirical studies (Kim, Seo et al., 2015;Li et al., 2021;Maroney et al., 2019;X. Shen & Wang, 2019). ...
... Aligning with these findings, this study has identified escapism motivation as the mediator linking academic stress to problematic smartphone use. This discovery corresponds with existing research that has highlighted the significant mediating effect of escapism motivation on the relationship between psychological issues (e.g., loneliness, depression, anxiety, stress, and psychological distress) and problematic media/technology use (e.g., video games and smartphones) (Kim, Seo, et al., 2015;Li et al., 2021;Maroney et al., 2019;X. Shen & Wang, 2019). ...
Although numerous studies have examined the direct association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use, the empirical evidences for the association are inconsistent. Also, the factors that can mediate or moderate the association remain underexplored. With the aim to address these knowledge gaps, based on 680 undergraduate students recruited from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), this study has examined (1) the direct association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use, (2) the mediating role of escapism motivation on the association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use, (3) the moderating role of present hedonistic time perspective on the association between escapism motivation and problematic smartphone use, and (4) the moderating role of present hedonistic time perspective on the indirect association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use through escapism motivation. The findings have shown that (1) the association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use was not statistically significant, (2) the association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use was mediated by escapism motivation, (3) present hedonistic time perspective has positively moderated the association between escapism motivation and problematic smartphone use, and (4) present hedonistic time perspective has positively moderated the indirect association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use through escapism motivation. The current study identified escapism motivation and present hedonistic time perspective as the factors that can explain “how” and “for whom” academic stress causes problematic smartphone use and provided important practical implications for the intervention of problematic smartphone use among undergraduate students.
... However, it is important to note that other factors, such as academic concerns, social relationships, or other aspects of adolescents' daily lives, may also contribute to anxiety and depression. Interestingly, there could be reciprocal relationships between PSU and mental disorders, with PSU potentially contributing to the development of mental disorders or, conversely, psychological symptoms leading to increased PSU [43,44]. For instance, those suffering from depression could prefer to avoid contact with others and rely on mobile devices to alleviate their depressive state [44]. ...
... Interestingly, there could be reciprocal relationships between PSU and mental disorders, with PSU potentially contributing to the development of mental disorders or, conversely, psychological symptoms leading to increased PSU [43,44]. For instance, those suffering from depression could prefer to avoid contact with others and rely on mobile devices to alleviate their depressive state [44]. Similarly, individuals experiencing stress might use their smartphones to play video games as a coping mechanism [45]. ...
Background
Adolescents face various addiction issues, including excessive smartphone use, which significantly impacts their mental health, leading to anxiety and depression. This study aimed to analyze the impact of smartphone use on the mental health of middle school adolescents in the city of Kenitra, Morocco, focusing particularly on the prevalence of depression and anxiety and to identify the factors influencing these behaviors. The present cross-sectional study included a sample of 341 middle school adolescents from Kenitra city, Morocco. Participants completed a comprehensive questionnaire covering various aspects, including sociodemographic information, smartphone addiction assessment using the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), and mental health assessment using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Descriptive statistics were performed, and Mann–Whitney U -test and chi-square test were both used for comparisons between the excessive and non-excessive group, respectively. A Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed to evaluate associations of smartphone overuse with depression and anxiety.
Results
Among 341 participants, 37.4% demonstrated smartphone overuse. Males exhibited nonsignificantly higher scores on the SAS than females ( p = 0.082). In addition, the mean psychological distress scores for the study participants were 7.62 ± 3.31 for anxiety and 7.75 ± 3.7 for depression. Males exhibited significantly lower scores on the HADS subscales in comparison with females ( p < 0.001). Interestingly, the results of the study showed a statistically significant positive correlation between anxiety ( r = 0.2441, p = 0.013) and depression ( r = 0.4035, p < 0.0001) subscales of HADS and SAS.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that adolescent students exposed to smartphone overuse are vulnerable to mental disorders. The results will be useful in helping schools put in place efficient measures to prevent excessive use of smartphones.
... Nomophobia expands to 'No Mobile Phobia', i.e., fear of being without a mobile device or out of mobile phone contact. Nomophobia, defined as a fear, discomfort, and anxiety that arise from the non-availability of these digital devices [1], has been called a disorder of the modern world and has only been used in recent times. Therefore, its proposal for addition in the updated DSM-5 is still up for debate [2], with the DSM-IV [3] stating that for an official diagnosis of social phobia disorder to be made, nomophobia must be causing a significant interference in an important area of the individual's life (leisure, social life, work). ...
... Nomophobia, a prevalent condition primarily observed among the younger demographic, has been found to result in various negative consequences for medical students. These consequences include the inappropriate use of smartphones during clinical practice, leading to distraction, a decline in the quality of patient care, an increased risk to patient safety, and a deterioration in students' academic performance and decision-making abilities [1,20,22]. Furthermore, there have been reports indicating a lack of awareness among medical students regarding the potential for distraction caused by smartphone usage. In contrast, individuals hold the belief that their reliance on mobile phones is necessary for accessing information, seeking assistance in medical settings, and experiencing a sense of security when their phones are in their possession [23]. ...
... Further, individuals experiencing depressive symptoms are more likely to rely on a smartphone to alleviate their negative feelings [23,52]. Specifically, a smartphone may provide individual suffering from a mental health problem with a convenient means for distraction, allowing them to escape negative emotions [20,26]. ...
... Furthermore, it is critical to prioritise individuals suffering from mental health problems in any prevention interventions focusing on reducing smartphone addiction. Social support and family functioning [53], mindfulness training [54] and improving in-person communication [52] might also help ease the use of a smartphone to cope with depressive symptoms. ...
Background
Smartphone addiction is exponentially increasing worldwide. It has negative health consequences. Previous systematic reviews identified several risk factors of smartphone addiction; however, they were based on cross‐sectional data. This systematic review aimed to fill the gap by assessing smartphone addiction risk factors using longitudinal studies.
Methods
This systematic review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023431529) and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. Six databases, including Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest Central and PsycINFO, were searched to identify eligible studies. Studies were eligible if they assessed smartphone addiction as the outcome variable, were longitudinal and were published in English. All papers included in this review were assessed for the risk of bias and quality.
Results
A total of 22 papers met the inclusion and exclusion criteria after the screening process. The results were categorised into three groups, including personal, social and environmental factors. Within the groups, seven risk factors, including mental health, emotions, academic stress, social rejection and peer victimisation as well as family dysfunction and parental phubbing, were identified. All of the risk factors were significant predictors of smartphone addiction. Mental health problems, social rejection and peer victimisation also displayed a bidirectional relationship with smartphone addiction. Inconsistent smartphone addiction measurements were used.
Conclusion
This review has significant implications for policymakers as it identified seven risk factors for smartphone addiction. Further studies are warranted to improve the understanding of the aetiology of smartphone addiction and inform education, counselling and coping with smartphone addiction.
... 56,74 In addition, depressed individuals are more likely to prefer other motivations (eg, escape, entertainment) to cope with emotional problems, with instrumental motivation producing fewer relieving effects due to its focus on specific functions of technologies. 75 And depressed adolescents are less likely to perform instrumental activities on social media (eg, doing homework or studying). 76 Based on this, we hypothesize the following: ...
... For instrumental motivation, the insignificant mediation supports H6 and previous technology literature that shows mental health problems to be less likely to motivate individuals to pursue instrumental needs (eg, seeking information) than social connection or escape needs. 75 Instrumental use of technology also has less impact on adolescents' technology dependence than entertainment and social motivation. 56 ...
Background
The emergence of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), may manifest as technology panic in some people, including adolescents who may be particularly vulnerable to new technologies (the use of AI can lead to AI dependence, which can threaten mental health). While the relationship between AI dependence and mental health is a growing topic, the few existing studies are mainly cross-sectional and use qualitative approaches, failing to find a longitudinal relationship between them. Based on the framework of technology dependence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of experiencing AI dependence, to examine the cross-lagged effects between mental health problems (anxiety/depression) and AI dependence and to explore the mediating role of AI use motivations.
Methods
A two-wave cohort program with 3843 adolescents (Male = 1848, Mage = 13.21 ± 2.55) was used with a cross-lagged panel model and a half-longitudinal mediation model.
Results
17.14% of the adolescents experienced AI dependence at T1, and 24.19% experienced dependence at T2. Only mental health problems positively predicted subsequent AI dependence, not vice versa. For AI use motivation, escape motivation and social motivation mediated the relationship between mental health problems and AI dependence whereas entertainment motivation and instrumental motivation did not.
Discussion
Excessive panic about AI dependence is currently unnecessary, and AI has promising applications in alleviating emotional problems in adolescents. Innovation in AI is rapid, and more research is needed to confirm and evaluate the impact of AI use on adolescents’ mental health and the implications and future directions are discussed.
... Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that the correlation between PSU and depressive symptoms may be influenced by various other factors, including inadequate sleep (Rathakrishnan et al., 2021) and insufficient physical activity . Conversely, there is evidence indicating that individuals with depressive symptoms often employ smartphones as a coping mechanism to alleviate negative emotions (Kim et al., 2015), implying a potential reciprocal relationship between PSU and depressive symptoms. Consequently, further research is necessary to validate these findings. ...
... The function of mobile phones to help distract attention may be particularly attractive to individuals seeking to alleviate the psychological distress caused by negative emotions. There is evidence to suggest that people with depressive symptoms often use smartphones as a coping mechanism to alleviate negative emotions (Kim et al., 2015). It is essential to consider the framework of the CIUT to understand smartphone use as a coping strategy for individuals with depression. ...
... Additionally, our study found that youth who reported being depressed in the past 3 months or more had higher SB on weekdays compared to individuals who were not previously depressed. This finding may be attributable to recreational ST, a key component of SB, serving as a means of coping with mechanism for psychological distress (Kim et al. 2015), which tends to be more prevalent among youth on weekdays compared to weekends (Reardon et al. 2023). To better understand recreational ST, our study stratified overall SB into recreational ST and other SB and conducted separate analyses. ...
Introduction
The prevalence of cannabis use among youth is rising globally, making it crucial to understand its role in health and well‐being. While cannabis use is linked to various health outcomes, evidence on its relationship with 24‐h movement behaviours (moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep) in youth is limited. This study uses a digital citizen science approach to examine these associations among Canadian youth aged 13 to 21 years.
Methods
As a part of the Smart Platform, a digital citizen science initiative for ethical population health surveillance and policy interventions, this study engaged with 208 youth citizen scientists from Saskatchewan, Canada (August to December 2018). Participants used their smartphones to report moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, substance use, mental health, and sociodemographic data over eight consecutive days. Linear regression models assessed associations between cannabis use and 24‐h movement behaviours. Sedentary behaviour was further stratified into recreational screen time and other sedentary behaviour to explore distinct relationships with cannabis use.
Results
After adjusting for age, gender, parental education, and school, cannabis use was associated with higher hours/day of sedentary behaviour in the overall (β = 8.92, 95% CI = 1.11, 16.72; p‐value = 0.02) and weekend models (β = 5.32, 95% CI = 0.89, 9.75; p‐value = 0.02). Cannabis use was also associated with higher recreational screen time in both overall (β = 4.65, 95% CI = 0.19, 9.13; p‐value = 0.04) and weekend models (β = 2.70, 95% CI = 0.08, 5.32; p‐value = 0.04).
Conclusions
These findings need to be confirmed with longitudinal studies to develop holistic population health interventions focusing on policy solutions to address complex negative behaviours among youth.
... Previous research has indicated that difficulties in emotional regulation could potentially manifest as aggressive behavior (Liu, Yu, Xu, & Che, 2023;Murray, Lavoie, Booth, Eisner, & Ribeaud, 2021). Some adolescents may excessively use smartphone use to escape facing or dealing with negative emotions (Kim, Seo, & David, 2015;Li, Li, Liu, & Wu, 2020), such as anger or frustration. However, this avoidance strategy could escalate into a dependency on smartphones, thereby resulting in PSU. ...
Background and aims
Problematic smartphone use are prevalent worldwide, particularly among adolescents, and it is strongly linked with aggressive behavior. However, the understanding of how PSU may contribute to the emergence of aggressive behavior remains incomplete.
Methods
The purpose of this study was to examine the bidirectional links between aggressive behavior and PSU among adolescents, utilizing data from a two-wave longitudinal study (the time interval is 15 months) conducted among 2,650 students in middle and high school.
Results
The cross-lagged models revealed that: (1) PSU at Time 1 (December 12) positively predicted aggressive behavior at Time 2 (March 2023, 15 months apart) among older adolescents (15–19 years), but this was not the case for younger adolescents (11–14 years); (2) aggressive behavior at Time 1 positively predicted PSU at Time 2 for both younger and older adolescents. Our findings have identified PSU as a risk factor for aggressive behavior among older adolescents, with those perceiving higher PSU may be particularly vulnerable to developing aggressive behavior over time.
Discussion and Conclusions
These results not only enhance our understanding of the links between PSU and aggressive behavior but also provide significant theoretical perspectives for developing future prevention strategies and intervention measures to tackle aggressive behavior among adolescents.
... SA is generally defined as the compulsive and uncontrollable overuse of smartphones, which can result in various negative outcomes, including withdrawal symptoms, diminished academic performance, strained social relationships, and physical health issues, all of which can impair an individual's daily functioning . In the literature, several terms -such as "problematic mobile or smartphone use" (Kim et al., 2015), "smartphone addiction" (Jeong, 2016;Kim et al., 2017), "smartphone dependence" (Lee et al., 2016;Yoo et al., 2020), and "smartphone overuse" Hwang et al., 2012), are used interchangeably to describe this phenomenon, which is characterized by an individual's inability to regulate their smartphone use, leading to adverse consequences. Among these consequences, impairments in attention and learning have been identified as significant contributors to decreased academic performance, particularly within educational settings (Dontre, 2021;Yang et al., 2018). ...
Introduction
The relationship between students’ smartphone addiction, social media use, video games play, and their academic performance has been widely studied, yet the existing literature presents inconsistent findings. This meta-analysis synthesizes current research to provide a comprehensive examination of the impact of these technologies on academic achievement.
Methods
A total of 63 studies (yielding 64 effect sizes) were included, encompassing a sample of 124,166 students from 28 countries. The meta-analysis utilized correlation coefficients and sample sizes, reporting results based on the random effects model. Key statistics such as the Fisher’s Z value, confidence intervals, and heterogeneity (Q) test results were considered, and publication bias was assessed using Begg and Mazumdar’s rank correlation test, with the Kendall Tau coefficient determining bias significance.
Results and discussion
The meta-analysis revealed a small but statistically significant negative association between smartphone use, social media use, video game playing, and students’ academic performance [Q(64) = 2501.93, p < 0.001, d = −0.085]. It is concluded that increased use of these technologies was associated with poorer academic outcomes, potentially impacting key cognitive skills essential for academic success. The implications for educational psychology research and future research directions are discussed.
... These data contribute to a growing literature on 'digital emotion regulation' (Smith et al., 2022), which includes research that suggests that up to half of smartphone use is dedicated to managing emotions like stress, sadness, and loneliness through social apps, games, music, and online shopping, and that this 'coping' effect is relatively transient (Shi et al., 2023). Other research proposes that phone use for coping might act as a safety behaviour, meaning that phones provide a means of experientially avoiding (i.e., escaping from) distressing emotions (Gorday & Bardeen, 2022;Elhai et al., 2019;Kim et al., 2015). Providing students with guidance and education on managing emotions may help reduce their reliance on phones for emotion regulation. ...
... Most items for Round 1 of the Delphi were drawn from 17 existing smartphone use motives measures (AlBarashdi & Bouazza, 2019;Hwang & Park, 2015;Khang, Kim, & Kim, 2013;Kim, 2017;Kim, Seo, & David, 2015;Park, Kim, Shon, & Shim, 2013;Lin et al., 2014;Meng et al., 2020;;Park & Lee, 2014;Shen et al., 2021;Van Deursen, Bolle, Hegner, & Kommers, 2015;Vanden Abeele, 2016;Wang et al., 2015;Zhang et al., 2014;Zhang, Chen, Zhao, et al., 2014). These measures were identified through a systematic review of the literature (Mostyn Sullivan & George, 2023). ...
Background and aims
Smartphones have been so widely adopted that many consider them essential for modern life. However, some people use their phone excessively, which can cause functional impairment or harm, termed problematic smartphone use (PSU). Smartphone use motives may help explain why users engage in general smartphone use and PSU, but existing measures may not capture certain motives which research suggests are important to smartphone use. To address this, across two studies, we constructed and validated a Motives for Smartphone Use Questionnaire (MSUQ) among young adults.
Methods and results
In Study 1, the Delphi method was used, whereby engagement with a panel of 23 international academic experts resulted in a pool of 62 smartphone use motives items that measure 11 proposed motives. In Study 2, the 62 items were administered to 680 young adults aged 18–25 years ( M age = 22.50, SD = 2.16). Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses found that the MSUQ has a seven-factor structure, assessing smartphone use to cope, pass time, socialize, obtain social comfort, feel safe, fulfil social obligations, and seek information. These motives differentially influenced PSU and smartphone usage.
Conclusions
The MSUQ is a valid measure of motives for smartphone use. It was developed specifically for smartphone use and it includes motives not captured in prior measures.
... This highlights the urgency of addressing social media addiction problems among students. Studies have suggested that frequent face-to-face communication can break the cycle, leading to problematic use of social media and promoting psychological wellbeing (29). ...
Background Excessive use of social media is linked with poor sleep quality and negative mental health outcomes. However, studies assessing the interplay of these three components among school children are exceedingly rare. This study aims to assess the levels of social media addiction, poor sleep quality, and anxiety among higher secondary school children, identify associated factors, and explore the correlations among these components. Methods This study was conducted among 418 higher secondary school students. Multivariable logistic regression at a significance level of 0.05 was employed to determine factors associated with social media addiction, poor sleep quality, and anxiety. Additionally, a correlation test was used to examine the associations between social media addiction, poor sleep quality, and anxiety. Results The prevalence rates of social media addiction, poor sleep quality, and anxiety were 33.5%, 64.4%, and 59.6%, respectively. Female students (aOR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.6–4.1) and students from private schools (aOR: 3.7; 95% CI: 2.0-6.8) had greater odds of being addicted to social media. Students from the Brahmin/Chhetri ethnic group (aOR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3–0.9) had lower odds of experiencing poor sleep quality than the other groups did. Female students (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.6–3.6) were more likely to experience anxiety. Additionally, sleep quality and anxiety were weakly positively correlated with social media addiction. Conclusion Excessive social media use is associated with poor sleep quality and increased anxiety among Nepalese higher secondary students. Interventions such as face-to-face counseling, digital detox programs, and tailored approaches for high-risk groups are essential to address these issues and enhance their overall well-being. Clinical trial number: Not applicable
... Additionally, smartphones may serve as instruments that guarantee personal safety, especially for individuals with panic disorders [56]. In the absence of interruption of such a maladaptive mechanism, as addressed by Kim, Seo, and David [57], there may be a risk for a vicious cycle between psychopathology and smartphone addiction, such that an increased level of perceived distress may lead to increased smartphone use which, in turn, may inadvertently increase the level of stress. The phenomenon known as technostress [58] concerns the negative outcomes and affective consequences derived from an overload of information and communication made available by computer technologies. ...
As Generation Z youth grow up with the Internet, problematic smartphone use is growing more prevalent. This study administered questionnaires containing measures such as the Mobile Phone Addiction Index, the Research Self-Efficacy Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and the Stress Mindset Measure. The survey targeted 2278 graduate students and explored the mechanism through which problematic smartphone use affects research self-efficacy (RSE). The results reveal that problematic smartphone use has significant negative effects on self-efficacy, with mental stress playing a mediating role in this process; that is, problematic smartphone use lowers RSE by increasing mental stress. Meanwhile, the aforementioned negative impacts caused by problematic smartphone use are moderated by stress mindsets: the “stress-is-enhancing” mindset reduces the negative effects of smartphone use on RSE, whereas the “stress-is-debilitating” mindset amplifies these negative effects by enhancing the mediating effect of mental stress.
... However, after controlling age, gender, and the addictions, IA was not a significant predictor of depression while SA remained a significant predictor of depression. As individuals with depression tend to have low self-esteem and motivation, validation needs, and the fear of rejection, they would be more addicted to smartphones because of the interactive function and the need to reduce negative emotions from life stressors (Kim et al., 2015). SA also increased the risk of depression, by posing interpersonal problems such as loneliness from lacking real social support and family conflicts (Kim et al., 2018). ...
Information technology addictions research has been limited in comparing the addictions with their predictive ability of negative consequences, a key criterion for many disorders, contributing to prevention and treatment efforts. Furthermore, there were overlaps among the addictions, proving the need to control for each addiction, which earlier studies had not done. Therefore, the current study examined whether general or specific addictions were associated with a higher risk of negative consequences whilst controlling for age and gender. General addictions, like Internet addiction (IA) and smartphone addiction (SA), indicated the addictive tendency towards technology and technological devices. Specific addictions, such as Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and social media addiction (SMA), indicated the addictive tendency towards gaming and social media content. Participants were a convenience sample of 191 (61.25% females) recruited from social media platforms and the university’s research participation system. Five hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted with IA, SA, IGD, and SMA as the predictors, and predicted for each common negative consequence identified among the addictions. The common negative consequences are depression, anxiety, stress, life satisfaction, and sleep quality. The results showed that IA and SA were significant predictors of stress, and IA significantly predicted poor sleep quality while SA significantly predicted depression. Comparatively, IGD and SMA did not significantly predict any of the negative consequences. Limitations include sample’s generalizability and conceptualizations of IA, SA, and SMA. Future research directions include replication studies, recognition and interventions for general addictions, and exploring the interactions among the addictions, negative consequences, and other risk factors.
... Previous research indicates that smartphone dependency is associated with a range of effects, including users engaging in smartphones for longer periods of time to feel satisfied, being preoccupied with their use, and hiding how involved they are [12,53,75]. It also involves repeatedly failing to control, reduce, or stop their smartphone use, feeling lost, restless, irritable, or moody when attempting to reduce smartphone use, and using smartphones as a means of problem-solving or to escape realworld negative feelings [22,54,70,101,118]. However, it is not clear how to best manage such smartphone dependency problems [66,85]. ...
... Maladaptive behavior associated with smartphone use is a growing phenomenon associated with a lower quality of life (Bradish, et al, 2023), so the excessive use of smartphones accompanied by psychological disorders such as sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, poor social skills, poor emotional intelligence, involvement in traffic accidents, emotional sensitivity, memory difficulties, fatigue, anxiety, depression, poor sleep quality, and frequent physical complaints. (Lemola et al, 2015;Kim et al., 2015;Chen et al., 2017;Soni et al., 2017;Alhassan et al., 2018;Thomee, 2018;Kumar et al. 2019;Sohn et al., 2019;Al Battshi et al., 2020;Ayandele et al., 2020;Cevik et al., 2020;Desouky & Abuzaid, 2020;Hale et al., 2020;Hong et al., 2020;Mohamed & Mostafa;2020;Panova et al., 2020;Zhang et al., 2020b;Alshwi et al., 2021;El-Wakeel, 2021;Fortes et al., 2021;Jin et al., 2021;Hidalgo-Fuentes, 2023;de Freitas et al, 2023). ...
Abstract
Objectives: The current study examines the psychometric properties (validity and reliability) of the
Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS) to verify its adequacy for the Saudi environment. The study
identifies gender differences in smartphone addiction at Jeddah University and highlights a variety
of smartphone-based activities.
Methods: The sample consists of (272) male and female students at Jeddah University, and it is
divided into )152( female students and )120( male students, respectively representing 55.9% and
44.1%. Their ages range from 19 to 23 years old with an average age of 21.66 and a standard
deviation of 1.732. The tools include a basic data collection form and the Smartphone Addiction
Scale (SAS) by Kwon et al., 2013a.
Results: The study shows that the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS) has good psychometric
properties, reflecting its validity and reliability in the Saudi environment. Moreover, the study
reveals that there are significant differences between male and female university students in
smartphone addiction at 0.001, favoring male students. That is, male students suffer more from
smartphone addiction than female students. In addition, the study shows that there are diverse
smartphone-based activities among students.
Conclusion: Based on the results, the study recommends offering counseling programs, lectures,
and seminars to raise awareness of the negative effects of using smartphones and to help university
students (especially males) to get rid of this behavioral addiction.
Keywords: psychometric properties, smartphone addiction, university students
... Maladaptive behavior associated with smartphone use is a growing phenomenon associated with a lower quality of life (Bradish, et al, 2023), so the excessive use of smartphones accompanied by psychological disorders such as sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, poor social skills, poor emotional intelligence, involvement in traffic accidents, emotional sensitivity, memory difficulties, fatigue, anxiety, depression, poor sleep quality, and frequent physical complaints. (Lemola et al, 2015;Kim et al., 2015;Chen et al., 2017;Soni et al., 2017;Alhassan et al., 2018;Thomee, 2018;Kumar et al. 2019;Sohn et al., 2019;Al Battshi et al., 2020;Ayandele et al., 2020;Cevik et al., 2020;Desouky & Abuzaid, 2020;Hale et al., 2020;Hong et al., 2020;Mohamed & Mostafa;2020;Panova et al., 2020;Zhang et al., 2020b;Alshwi et al., 2021;El-Wakeel, 2021;Fortes et al., 2021;Jin et al., 2021;Hidalgo-Fuentes, 2023;de Freitas et al, 2023). ...
Objectives: The current study examines the psychometric properties (validity and reliability) of the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS) to verify its adequacy for the Saudi environment. The study identifies gender differences in smartphone addiction at Jeddah University and highlights a variety of smartphone-based activities. Methods: The sample consists of (272) male and female students at Jeddah University, and it is divided into )152( female students and )120( male students, respectively representing 55.9% and 44.1%. Their ages range from 19 to 23 years old with an average age of 21.66 and a standard deviation of 1.732. The tools include a basic data collection form and the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS) by Kwon et al., 2013a. Results: The study shows that the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS) has good psychometric properties, reflecting its validity and reliability in the Saudi environment. Moreover, the study reveals that there are significant differences between male and female university students in smartphone addiction at 0.001, favoring male students. That is, male students suffer more from smartphone addiction than female students. In addition, the study shows that there are diverse smartphone-based activities among students. Conclusion: Based on the results, the study recommends offering counseling programs, lectures, and seminars to raise awareness of the negative effects of using smartphones and to help university students (especially males) to get rid of this behavioral addiction.
... The results of our study reveal that the reason for the decrease in sleep quality in university students was smartphone addiction, similar to previous studies in the literature 19,27,50 . Excessive phone use can cause anxiety and depression 51,52 , and it has also been reported that using the phone late at night can reduce sleep quality 52 . ...
Bu çalışmada üniversite öğrencilerinde akıllı telefon bağımlılığı ile uyku kalitesi arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. İlişkisel tarama modeli kullanılarak yapılan araştırmaya 214'ü kadın, 189'u erkek toplam 403 üniversite öğrencisi katılım göstermiştir. Veri toplama araçları olarak; Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Akıllı Telefon Bağımlılığı Ölçeği ve Uyku Kalitesi Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Normal dağılım gösteren verilerin istatistiksel analizlerinde bağımsız örneklemler T-Testi, Pearson Korelasyon ve doğrusal Regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma bulguları incelendiğinde; akıllı telefon bağımlılığında cinsiyete göre anlamlı farklılık elde edilirken (p<.05); uyku kalitesinde ise cinsiyete göre anlamlı farklılık elde edilmemiştir (p>.05). Bağımlı değişkenler açısından sonuçlar incelendiğinde, akıllı telefon bağımlılığı ile uyku kalitesi arasında negatif yönde düşük düzeyde anlamlı ilişkiler tespit edilmiştir (p<.05). Ayrıca akıllı telefon bağımlılığı, erkek ve kadın üniversite öğrencilerinin uyku kalitesini sırasıyla %7 ve %3 oranında olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir (p<0,05). Sonuç olarak, akıllı telefona bağımlı olmanın üniversite öğrencilerinde uyku kalitesini düşürdüğü ve bu sonucun üniversite öğrencilerini olumsuz yönde etkileyeceği düşünülmektedir Ayrıca, zihinsel sağlığın bozulmasının yanı sıra depresyon, kaygı ve izolasyona da yol açabilir.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Öğrenci, akıllı telefon bağımlılığı, uyku kalitesi
... Longitudinal studies have found that there is a bidirectional predictive effect between internet overuse behavior and depression (Xun et al., 2013;Tian et al., 2022), and those classified as heavy users of computer, social media, and mobile phone subsequently experience more severe long-term stress, depression, and sleep disorders (Thomée et al., 2011). However, the self-medicine theory (Negative reinforcement models) posits that using internet can regulate and alleviate emotions (Elhai et al., 2017), for example, depressed patients can use mobile phones as a way to deal with depression and negative emotions (Snodgrass et al., 2014;Kim et al., 2015). Therefore, in order to eliminate these psychological pressures and negative emotions, individuals will eventually develop excessive use of the Internet (Kim et al., 2017). ...
Introduction
Watching short videos on mobile phones is currently a very prevalent phenomenon. It has been found in research that excessive use of short videos is closely related to depression. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between short video overuse behavior and depression among college students as well as the gender differences that are present in such relationship.
Methods
A follow-up measurement was conducted on 331 college students using the Short Video Usage Behavior Scale and the Epidemic Research Center Depression Scale with an interval of 2 months.
Results
(1) Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between short video overuse behavior and depression, whether measured at the same or different time points, repeated measures ANOVA indicates that short video overuse behavior and depression have strong stability within the interval between two measurements. (2) Pre-test short video overuse behavior could significantly and positively predict post-test depression, whereas pre-test depression could not significantly predict post-test short video overuse behavior. (3) The cross-lagged effect between short video overuse behavior and depression showed no gender differences.
Discussion
These findings indicate that, for college students, short video overuse behavior may increase the risk of depression, whereas depression cannot induce short video overuse behavior.
... [3][4][5] Mobile phone addiction is characterized by excessive and uncontrolled use of mobile devices and has consequences for individual health and development, such as depression and anxiety, sleep quality, and academic achievement. 2,[6][7][8][9][10] Although research on mobile phone addiction is well documented, less research has been conducted in the context of challenging external environments, such as during COVID-19, which caused considerable uncertainty and stress worldwide. This paper investigates how the mechanisms of influence of mobile phone addiction act in an external environment that is unpredictable, ambiguous, and filled with negative information and multiple stressors. ...
Purpose
This study investigated the mechanism underlying the association between intolerance of uncertainty and mobile phone addiction among Chinese overseas students during the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the mediating roles of perceived stress and rumination.
Patients and Methods
An online questionnaire survey was distributed via social media platforms popular in mainland China. The items collected demographic information and assessed intolerance of uncertainty, perceived stress, rumination, and mobile phone addiction. A total of 249 respondents completed the questionnaire.
Results
The findings suggest a considerably high risk of mobile phone addiction in the study period among overseas Chinese students, as three-fourths of the participants may have been susceptible to mobile phone addiction according to the suggested cut-off point of the Chinese version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Form. Intolerance of uncertainty showed a significant positive direct effect on mobile phone addiction. The mediation analyses suggest that intolerance of uncertainty affected mobile phone addiction mainly through three pathways: the mediating effect of perceived stress, the mediating effect of rumination, and the chain mediating effect of perceived stress and rumination.
Conclusion
This study enhances understanding of mobile phone addiction among Chinese overseas students and suggests the mediating roles of rumination and perceived stress in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and mobile phone addiction. The study also provides suggestions for interventions among Chinese students overseas.
... Additional studies have indicated associations between problematic smartphone use and poor sleep quality, depression, and anxiety, suggesting that despite positive intentions, excess text use can result in less engagement with nondigital living [29,30]. In particular, research has documented problematic use thresholds where more text messaging is associated with fewer initiated calls and disengagement from the communication skills applied in voice-based, in-person interactions [31,32]. For example, Tamura et al [33] defined excess smartphone use (for social network services and web-based chat) as >2 hours of use daily, an amount associated with higher depression risks. ...
Background
As an established treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is now implemented and assessed in internet-based formats that, when combined with smartphone apps, enable secure text messaging. As an adjunct to such internet-based CBT (ICBT) approaches, text messaging has been associated with increased adherence and therapeutic alliance.
Objective
This study analyzed data from the intervention arm of a randomized control trial evaluating 24-week ICBT for MDD (intervention arm) against standard-care psychiatry (waitlist control). The aim of this secondary analysis was to assess MDD symptom improvement in relation to the frequency and content of text messages sent by ICBT participants to Navigator-Coaches during randomized control trial participation. Higher text frequency in general and in 3 conceptual categories (appreciating alliance, alliance building disclosures, and agreement confirmation) was hypothesized to predict larger MDD symptom improvement.
Methods
Participants were young adults (18-30 years) from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. The frequencies of categorized texts from 20 ICBT completers were analyzed with respect to MDD symptom improvement using linear regression models. Texts were coded by 2 independent coders and categorized using content analysis. MDD symptoms were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).
Results
Participants sent an average of 136 text messages. Analyses indicated that BDI-II improvement was negatively associated with text messaging frequency in general (β=–0.029, 95% CI –0.11 to 0.048) and in each of the 3 categories: appreciating alliance (β=–0.096, 95% CI –0.80 to 0.61), alliance building disclosures (β=–0.098, 95% CI –0.28 to 0.084), and agreement confirmation (β=–0.076, 95% CI –0.40 to 0.25). Altogether, the effect of text messaging on BDI-II improvement was uniformly negative across statistical models. More text messaging appeared associated with less MDD symptom improvement.
Conclusions
The hypothesized positive associations between conceptually categorized text messages and MDD symptom improvement were not supported in this study. Instead, more text messaging appeared to indicate less treatment benefit. Future studies with larger samples are needed to discern the optimal use of text messaging in ICBT approaches using adjunctive modes of communication.
Trial Registration
Clinical Trials.gov NCT03406052; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03406052
... Anxiety, depression, and Internet addiction are considered risk factors for physical health. Individuals with Internet addiction spend less time on physical activities, and their body muscle contents are less and fat contents are more than those without Internet addiction [105]. This sedentary life style may lead to problems such as hypertension [106], physical pain (e.g., musculoskeletal pain and neck-shoulder pain). ...
Purpose of Review
This paper aims to review the existing literature on the relationships between anxiety/depression and Internet addiction and their common risk factors, protective factors, and developmental outcomes.
Recent Findings
In the literature, three types of relationships have been revealed between anxiety/depression and Internet addiction, namely, anxiety/depression → Internet addiction, Internet addiction → anxiety/depression, and the bidirectional directions between them. Some personal characteristics such as neuroticism, shyness, low self-esteem, and low self-control and environmental factors such as childhood maltreatment and peer victimization may place individuals at increased risks of anxiety/depression and Internet addiction, but other psychological factors may prevent individuals from this. Anxiety/depression and Internet addiction exert a negative influence on individuals’ development.
Summary
Anxiety/depression and Internet addiction have some common risk factors and outcomes and the relationships between them were unidirectional and bidirectional. Longitudinal studies with more time points are needed to examine the relationships between anxiety/depression and Internet addiction.
... That is consistent with previous research results, that is, users' Emotional cognitive experience is a direct influencing factor for individuals' excessive use of mobile phones (12, [60][61][62], which is also consistent with the idea of the Emotional enhancement Effect (30). A large number of empirical studies (63)(64)(65) have shown that depressed individuals are more likely to become dependent on the Internet than other individuals, leading to indulging in mobile phones. To sum up, the fear of missing out can cause depression among college students and further result in the formation of mobile phone addiction. ...
Background
Mobile phone addiction has adverse influences on the physical and mental health of college students. However, few studies shed light on the effect of fear of missing out on mobile phone addiction and the underlying mechanisms among college students.
Methods
To explore their associations, the present study used the Fear of Missing Out Scales (FoMOS), Loneliness Scale (USL-8), Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale (MPAI), and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Questionnaire (DASS-21) to investigate 750 college students.
Results
The results suggested that fear of missing out significantly positively predicted mobile phone addiction. This direct effect could be mediated by depression, and the indirect effect of fear of missing out on mobile phone addiction could be moderated by loneliness. Specifically, the indirect effect was stronger for students with high levels of loneliness.
Conclusion
This study provides a theoretical basis for developing future interventions for mobile phone addiction in higher education students.
... The cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use suggests that depression develops in individuals with problematic Internet use 8 . Additionally, a compensatory Internet use model suggests that individuals use the Internet to alleviate dysphoric moods 36 , while a previous study indicates that individuals with depression are more inclined to engage in smartphone overdependence to alleviate negative moods 37 . Given this evidence, it can be concluded that individuals with depression are overdependent on smartphones as a coping mechanism to alleviate their depressed mood. ...
Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to smartphone overdependence. Therefore, we identified the factors influencing smartphone overdependence and risk subgroups among adolescents. The current study is a secondary analysis of nationally representative data from the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The survey targeted middle- and high-school students in South Korea aged 12–18 using stratified, clustered, multistage probability sampling, and 53,457 students from 793 schools participated in this study. Complex sample data were analyzed considering the strata, clusters, and weights. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed age, gender, household economic status, anxiety, loneliness, depressive symptoms, and experience of violent treatment as significant predictors of smartphone overdependence. Adolescents with severe anxiety were at a 3.326 times higher risk of smartphone overdependence than adolescents with minimal anxiety. Decision tree analysis showed that anxiety, gender, loneliness, and depressive symptoms were important in differentiating risk subgroups, with anxiety being the most significant factor. Group 13, comprising girls with severe anxiety, had the highest risk at 52.9%. Thus, early detection and prevention of issues such as anxiety, loneliness, and depressive symptoms, as well as treatment for violence, can prevent smartphone overdependence among adolescents. Additionally, more thorough interventions for anxiety are warranted to prevent smartphone overdependence.
... For example, people with depression used smartphones to manage depressed mood, leading to more problems with smartphone use (10) ; while people with chronic stress used online games to relieve stress. (11) This was also applied to excessive smartphone use before bedtime which would disturb their sleep, resulting in stress and depression. (12) Additionally, a bidirectional correlation between smartphone use and depression was reported. ...
... Adolescents who experience phubbing receive limited feedback (i.e., responsiveness) from their parents, subsequently leading to insufficient interaction between the parent and children [19,62]. Adolescents then intentionally spend time on the Internet, such as social media, for entertainment [23,67,68]. Thus, parental phubbing can lead to PIU by impairing the parent-child relationship. ...
Background
The positive association of parental phubbing with internalising and externalising problems among adolescents has gained academic traction. To date, limited research has investigated the association of parental phubbing and adolescents’ Problematic Internet Use (PIU). Furthermore, the mechanism underlying this association is largely unknown. These gaps limit our understanding of family-related issues affecting PIU among adolescents. The present study explores whether there is a relation between parental phubbing and PIU and investigates the mechanisms underlying this relation among adolescents.
Methods
The participants were 495 junior high schoolers aged 11–15 years. Participants completed questionnaires on their experiences with PIU, parental phubbing, parent–child relationships, and basic psychological needs satisfaction.
Results
The results showed a direct and indirect positive association between parental phubbing and PIU. Furthermore, parental phubbing indirectly influenced PIU and was mediated by the parent–child relationship and basic psychological needs satisfaction, respectively. Moreover, the parent–child relationship and basic psychological needs satisfaction were sequentially mediated.
Conclusions
Our study highlights the crucial role of parents in the development of adolescent PIU and provides theoretical and practical guidelines for PIU prevention and intervention.
... [28][29][30] An increasing body of data suggests that SPA is linked to stress, anxiety, and depression. [31][32][33][34] An international issue is the high frequency of anxiety disorders among college students. 35,36 According to a cross-sectional survey of college students in India, anxiety disorders were 30% more common than depression, which was 18% in Asia. ...
Introduction
An increasing amount of research has shown a link between psychopathological behaviors such as smartphone addiction, depression, anxiety, and stress. The aim of this study was to assess the association of smartphone addiction with depression, anxiety, and stress.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted between 26th January and 3rd March 2021. The sample was chosen using a convenient sampling technique and Raosoft tool. The survey assessed smartphone addiction using abbreviated versions of the Addiction Scale Short Version, a self-administered questionnaire that has been validated in the English and Arabic languages. Also, Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale was used to measure the level of depression, anxiety, and stress among the university students.
Results
A total of 367 university students from the Medical and Health Sciences College participated. Our findings showed that smartphone addiction exhibited positive correlations with depression (r = 0.375, p < 0.01), anxiety (r = 0.253, p < 0.01), and stress (r = 0.328, p < 0.05). In addition, there was a strong positive correlation between depression and both anxiety and stress (r = 0.731, p < 0.01) (r = 0.778, p < 0.01), respectively. Finally, stress and anxiety showed a positive correlation (r = 0.708, p < 0.01).
Conclusion
When combined, our data offer strong support for a bidirectional hybrid theory that takes into account the link between smartphone addiction and depression, anxiety, and stress. The current study’s findings might assist national health authorities in strengthening their efforts to prevent depression, anxiety, and stress associated with the use of modern technology.
... For example, individuals with problematic smartphone use may stay up late using their mobile phones, which leads them to stay awake late, thus impairing their sleep and seriously influencing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety (Elhai et al., 2017). However, relying only on mobile phones as an emotional antidote without actually dealing with the root of negative emotion is neither healthy nor constructive (Kim et al., 2015a). Although smartphones bring convenience, we should be alert to their adverse effects on college students. ...
Previous studies have documented that parent‒child attachment is linked to the mental health of college students. However, little is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relation. Based on attachment theory, this study examined whether security mediates the relationship between parent‒child attachment and mental health among college students and whether problematic smartphone use moderates the second half of the mediation process. In total, 77,211 Chinese students (mean age = 20.09 years, SD = 1.37) were recruited from multiple universities. These students provided self-reported data on demographic variables, parent‒child attachment, security, problematic smartphone use, depression, anxiety and resilience. After controlling for sex, age, paternal education level, maternal education level and family economic status, mediation analysis indicated that security mediates the association between parent‒child attachment and mental health among college students. Moderated mediation analysis further demonstrated that the association between security and mental health is moderated by problematic smartphone use. Specifically, the relationship between security and mental health among college students was stronger for those with highly problematic smartphone use. The current study highlights the significance of identifying the mechanisms that moderate the mediated paths between parent‒child attachment and mental health and has important implications for the prevention and intervention of mental health problems among college students.
The aim of this study was to examine the predictive role of depression on smartphone addiction. A total of 326 adults (219 women and 107 men) participated in the study. The ages of the participants ranged between 18 and 61 years old, and the average age was 26.86±8.05. Within the scope of the research, a demographic information form, DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) depression subscale and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form were applied. Depression has been found to be positively associated with smartphone addiction. The results obtained from the structural equation model showed that depression positively predicted smartphone addiction. This research, which provides a better understanding of the impact of depression, a common psychiatric disorder, on the formation of smartphone addiction, may enable the design of effective interventions within the scope of preventive guidance and the development of methods to reduce excessive use.
Background and aims
Smartphone addiction is a global problem, especially among college students, and has brought many kinds of harm to college students. Previous studies have confirmed the risk factors of smartphone addiction, but the effects of social anxiety and depressive symptoms on smartphone addiction and the potential mediating mechanisms have not been fully explored. The focus of this study is to clarify the influence of social anxiety on smartphone addiction and the mediating role of depressive symptoms in this relationship to help college administrators formulate smartphone addiction prevention programs for college students.
Methods
This study conducted a questionnaire survey on 3,379 college students from different universities in China. They completed the Social Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Smartphone Addiction Scale. Then, This study used the SPSS Macro program PROCESS v 4.0 to test the mediation model.
Results
Statistical analysis showed that social anxiety, depressive symptoms, and smartphone addiction were all positively correlated. We further found that social anxiety had a predictive effect on smartphone addiction, and depressive symptoms played a complete mediating role in the relationship between social anxiety and smartphone addiction among college students.
Discussion and conclusion
This research emphasizes the importance of considering social anxiety and depressive symptoms when studying the underlying mechanisms of smartphone addiction among college students, thereby offering valuable insights for devising intervention strategies aimed at mitigating addictive behaviors in this population.
Introduction
The theoretical model of smartphone addiction highlights the role of emotional factors in fostering addictive behaviors. However, most research has focused on long-term emotional states and pathologies, often overlooking the immediate effects of daily emotional fluctuations on smartphone usage and their mechanisms.
Methods
Our study employed an online survey and a moderated parallel mediation model to explore how daily emotional experiences influence smartphone addiction among college students. We analyzed the mediating roles of anxiety, stress, and depression, and the moderating effect of gender.
Results
Our findings indicate that daily negative emotional experiences were positively correlated with smartphone addiction, with stress serving as a significant mediator in the relationship between both positive and negative emotional experiences and addiction. Interestingly, positive emotional experiences directly increased smartphone addiction risk among female students, but they also significantly reduced stress and depression, especially pronounced in women. Further analysis indicated that positive emotions primarily mitigate addiction through reducing stress, a pathway especially significant in females.
Discussion
The study not only confirms the substantial impact of emotional experiences on addiction but also deepens our understanding of their mechanisms, underlining the importance of considering the nature of emotional experiences and gender-specific effects in devising prevention and intervention strategies.
1 Introduction
2 Problematic Phone Use Prevalence: The Case of Spain
2.1 Approaches and Methodologies
2.2 Prevalence and Characteristics of Problematic Cell Phone Use in Spain
3 Psychological Factors and Drug Consumption Related to Problematic Mobile Phone Use
4 From Cell Phones to Smartphones
5 Cell Phone Abuse: A Contemporary Addiction
6 Does Cell Phone Addiction Share Neurobiological Mechanisms with Other Addictions?
7 Future Research
7.1 Mobile Device Addiction Surveys
7.2 Objective Measurements of Mobile Phone Usage Time
Human behavior in cyber space is extremely complex. Change is the only constant as technologies and social contexts evolve rapidly. This leads to new behaviors in cybersecurity, Facebook use, smartphone habits, social networking, and many more. Scientific research in this area is becoming an established field and has already generated a broad range of social impacts. Alongside the four key elements (users, technologies, activities, and effects), the text covers cyber law, business, health, governance, education, and many other fields. Written by international scholars from a wide range of disciplines, this handbook brings all these aspects together in a clear, user-friendly format. After introducing the history and development of the field, each chapter synthesizes the most recent advances in key topics, highlights leading scholars and their major achievements, and identifies core future directions. It is the ideal overview of the field for researchers, scholars, and students alike.
The unfamiliar and unusual stressful conditions due to COVID-19 have motivated employees to excessively use smartphones for non-work-related activities to alleviate the negative feelings associated with these stressful conditions. To conceptualize our research model, we employed the Compensatory Internet Use Theory (CIUT), which is associated with problematic technology usage. The proposed model investigates the influence of the following negative factors that emerged because of COVID-19 as the determinants of problematic smartphone use (PSU): remote work arrangement (RWA), intolerance of uncertainty (IU), COVID-19 anxiety (CA), and social isolation (ISO). In addition, we suggest that, although employees tend to use smartphones excessively to alleviate stressful life conditions, these conditions (RWA, IU, CA, and ISO) will lead to emotional exhaustion (EE), which will consequently result in the excessive use of smartphones. Furthermore, we are investigating the influence of PSU on employee work productivity. Finally, we are also interested in exploring the moderating role of gender in the relationships within our model. The results have shown that all hypotheses are supported, except for the influence of RWA on EE and PSU, and the influence of CA on PSU. We believe that our findings will provide researchers and businesses with a deeper understanding of this critical issue, especially in the context of smartphone usage at work.
Smartphone addiction is an increasingly severe issue in modern society, particularly impacting the mental health of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the relationship between smartphone addiction and mental health issues among college students, and the mediating and moderating roles of psychological resilience and parental attachment. We employed a cross-sectional study design with 100097 college Chinese students to examine the relationships between smartphone addiction, mental health (anxiety and depression), and the mediating role of psychological resilience. Parental attachment was assessed as a moderator within these relationships. Data were analyzed using multiple regression and mediation/moderation models, controlling for relevant covariates. Our findings revealed a significant positive correlation between smartphone addiction and both anxiety and depression. Psychological resilience mediated these relationships, suggesting that higher resilience levels can mitigate the negative psychological impacts of smartphone addiction. Additionally, parental attachment moderated the effects of smartphone addiction on psychological outcomes; stronger attachment was associated with less pronounced effects of addiction on anxiety and depression. Specifically, for students with low parental attachment, the predictive effect of smartphone addiction on anxiety and depression was more pronounced, whereas higher attachment levels were protective.
Main Points • The importance of the subject can be concluded from the fact that almost one-third of participants had smartphone addiction, and almost half of them had depressive symptoms. • The risk of smartphone addiction is high for those aged 35 and under, female gender, single, students, monthly income of less than 1000 TL, those who use the internet at home, those who use social media, those who use social media for a long time and change their smartphones frequently, and those who use a smartphone for 5 hours or more per day. • The risk of depression is higher in those who use social media for 1-2 hours a day and those who use a smartphone for 5 hours or more per day. • Income status (1000-1999 TL), presence of a computer at home, addiction status (except smoking), and smartphone addiction significantly affect the development of depressive symptoms. • Necessary lifestyle changes (such as limiting the use of smartphones and social media) should be made in people diagnosed with smartphone addiction and/or depression, and depression treatment should be planned. Abstract The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression in primary care. Three hundred fifty-two people who participated in our research, designed as a cross-sectional study, filled out the Short Version of the Smartphone Addiction scale and Beck's Depression Inventory. Among the participants, 28.9% were found to have smartphone addiction and 52.3% were found to have depressive symptoms. The mean score of participants in the Smartphone Addiction Scale was 24.32 ± 11.24 points (n = 352). The mean score in Beck's Depression Inventory was 10.80 ± 7.94 points. A positive significant relationship was found between depression frequency and social media usage duration (1-2 hours/ day) and length of social media usage (≥5 hours/day). A weak but positive and significant correlation was found between Smartphone Addiction Scale and Beck's Depression Inventory (r = 0.147; p = .006). In the regression analysis, it was determined that having an income between 1000 and 1999 TL, having a computer at home, having other addictions other than smoking, and being addicted to a smartphone increase the risk of depression development. The relationship between smartphone addiction and depression should be given attention. The factors influencing smartphone addiction should be considered. Especially the social media and smartphone usage should be limited.
We investigated factors contributing to Internet addiction in 105 Japanese medical students. The subjects were administered by a self-reporting questionnaire designed to evaluate demographic factors, Internet addiction, loneliness, health-related lifestyle factors, depressive state, patterns of behavior, and mobile phone dependence. Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that loneliness and mobile phone dependence were positively related to degree of addiction. Our findings suggest that Internet addiction is associated with loneliness and mobile phone dependence in Japanese students.
Despite its unambiguous advantages, cellular phone use has been associated with harmful or potentially disturbing behaviors. Problematic use of the mobile phone is considered as an inability to regulate one’s use of the mobile phone, which eventually involves negative consequences in daily life (e.g., financial problems). The current article describes what can be considered dysfunctional use of the mobile phone and emphasizes its multifactorial nature. Validated assessment instruments to measure problematic use of the mobile phone are described. The available literature on risk factors for dysfunctional mobile phone use is then reviewed, and a pathways model that integrates the existing literature is proposed. Finally, the assumption is made that dysfunctional use of the mobile phone is part of a spectrum of cyber addictions that encompasses a variety of dysfunctional behaviors and implies involvement in specific online activities (e.g., video games, gambling, social networks, sex-related websites).
Background and aims:
Likening mobile phone use dependency to the classification of excessive behaviors may be necessarily equivalent in seriousness to previously established addictions such as problematic computing or excessive gambling. The aim of the study explores into the behavior of excessive use of mobile phones as a pathological behavior.
Methods:
Two studies investigated criteria for problematic mobile phone usage by examining student (Study 1, N = 301) and nonstudent (Study 2, N = 362) responses to a set of adapted mobile phone addiction inventories. Study 1 investigated cell phone addiction inventories as constructs designed to measure problematic cell phone use. Additionally, Study 2 sought to predict age, depression, extraversion, emotional stability, impulse control, and self-esteem as independent variables that augment respondents' perceptions of problematic use.
Results:
The results from Study 1 and Study 2 indicate that 10 to 25% of the participants tested exhibited problematic cell phone usage. Additionally, age, depression, extraversion, and low impulse control are the most suitable predictors for problematic use.
Conclusions:
The results of the two studies indicate that problematic mobile phone use does occur and ought to be taken seriously by the psychological community. Presently, there is limited data providing conclusive evidence for a comprehensible categorization of cell phone addiction, as well as a unified explanatory model specific to problematic mobile phone use. Studies such as this one may contribute substantial findings, adding scientific significance, and offering a valuable submission for the ongoing progress of creating intervention frameworks relative to "virtual addictions".
This study aimed to develop and assess the psychometric properties of an English language measure of problematic mobile phone use. Participants were recruited from a university campus, health science center, and other public locations. The sample included 244 individuals (68.4% female) aged 18–75. Results supported a unidimensional factor structure for the 20-item self-report Problematic Use of Mobile Phones (PUMP) Scale. Internal consistency was excellent (). Strong correlations (, ) were found between the PUMP Scale and an existing scale of cellular phone dependency that was validated in Asia, as well as items assessing frequency and intensity of mobile phone use. Results provide preliminary support for the use of the PUMP Scale to measure problematic use of mobile phones.
This study investigated the associations between the intensity of mobile phone use and health-related lifestyle. For 275 university students, we evaluated health-related lifestyle using the Health Practice Index (HPI; Hagihara & Morimoto, 1991; Kusaka, Kondou, & Morimoto, 1992) and analyzed responses to a questionnaire (MPDQ; Toda, Monden, Kubo, & Morimoto, 2004) designed, with a self-rating scale, to gauge mobile phone dependence. For males, there was a significant relationship between smoking habits and mobile phone dependence. We also found that male respondents with low HPI scores were significantly higher for mobile phone dependence. These findings suggest that, particularly for males, the intensity of mobile phone use may be related to healthy lifestyle.
Recent reports of problematic forms of Internet usage bring new currency to the problem of "media addictions" that have long been the subject of both popular and scholarly writings. The research in this article reconsidered such behavior as deficient self-regulation within the framework of A. Bandura's (1991) theory of self-regulation. In this framework, behavior patterns that have been called media addictions lie at one extreme of a continuum of unregulated media behavior that extends from normally impulsive media consumption patterns to extremely problematic behavior that might properly be termed pathological. These unregulated media behaviors are the product of deficient self-regulatory processes through which media consumers monitor, judge, and adjust their own behavior, processes that may be found in all media consumers. The impact of deficient self-regulation on media behavior was examined in a sample of 465 college students. A measure of deficient self-regulation drawn from the diagnostic criteria used in past studies of pathological Internet usage was significantly and positively correlated to Internet use across the entire range of consumption, including among normal users who showed relatively few of the "symptoms." A path analysis demonstrated that depression and media habits formed to alleviate depressed moods undermined self-regulation and led to increased Internet usage.
This study aimed to assess pathological Internet and cell-phone use in college students, and to identify psychological, health, and behavioral correlates. A cross-sectional design was utilized to gather data from 337 students. We developed two measures, termed the Internet Over-use Scale (IOS), and the Cell-Phone Over-Use Scale (COS). Additional measures utilized were the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the General Health Questionnaire-28. Results provide support for internal consistency of the IOS and the COS (α = 0.88 and α = 0.87, respectively) as well as for construct validity. Logistic regression analyses indicated that heavy Internet use is associated with high anxiety; high cell-phone use is associated to being female, and having high anxiety and insomnia. The developed measures seem to be promising tools for assessing these new behavioral addictions.
An online survey of 3,461 North American girls ages 8-12 conducted in the summer of 2010 through Discovery Girls magazine examined the relationships between social well-being and young girls' media use--including video, video games, music listening, reading/homework, e-mailing/posting on social media sites, texting/instant messaging, and talking on phones/video chatting--and face-to-face communication. This study introduced both a more granular measure of media multitasking and a new comparative measure of media use versus time spent in face-to-face communication. Regression analyses indicated that negative social well-being was positively associated with levels of uses of media that are centrally about interpersonal interaction (e.g., phone, online communication) as well as uses of media that are not (e.g., video, music, and reading). Video use was particularly strongly associated with negative social well-being indicators. Media multitasking was also associated with negative social indicators. Conversely, face-to-face communication was strongly associated with positive social well-being. Cell phone ownership and having a television or computer in one's room had little direct association with children's socioemotional well-being. We hypothesize possible causes for these relationships, call for research designs to address causality, and outline possible implications of such findings for the social well-being of younger adolescents.
Examining several sources of data on smartphone use, this paper presents evidence for the popular conjecture that mobile devices
are “habit-forming.” The form of habits we identified is called a checking habit: brief, repetitive inspection of dynamic content quickly accessible on the device. We describe findings on kinds and frequencies
of checking behaviors in three studies. We found that checking habits occasionally spur users to do other things with the
device and may increase usage overall. Data from a controlled field experiment show that checking behaviors emerge and are
reinforced by informational “rewards” that are very quickly accessible. Qualitative data suggest that although repetitive
habitual use is frequent, it is experienced more as an annoyance than an addiction. We conclude that supporting habit-formation
is an opportunity for making smartphones more “personal” and “pervasive.”
Because of the quick development and widespread use of mobile phones, and their vast effect on communication and interactions, it is important to study possible negative health effects of mobile phone exposure. The overall aim of this study was to investigate whether there are associations between psychosocial aspects of mobile phone use and mental health symptoms in a prospective cohort of young adults.
The study group consisted of young adults 20-24 years old (n = 4156), who responded to a questionnaire at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Mobile phone exposure variables included frequency of use, but also more qualitative variables: demands on availability, perceived stressfulness of accessibility, being awakened at night by the mobile phone, and personal overuse of the mobile phone. Mental health outcomes included current stress, sleep disorders, and symptoms of depression. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated for cross-sectional and prospective associations between exposure variables and mental health outcomes for men and women separately.
There were cross-sectional associations between high compared to low mobile phone use and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression for the men and women. When excluding respondents reporting mental health symptoms at baseline, high mobile phone use was associated with sleep disturbances and symptoms of depression for the men and symptoms of depression for the women at 1-year follow-up. All qualitative variables had cross-sectional associations with mental health outcomes. In prospective analysis, overuse was associated with stress and sleep disturbances for women, and high accessibility stress was associated with stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression for both men and women.
High frequency of mobile phone use at baseline was a risk factor for mental health outcomes at 1-year follow-up among the young adults. The risk for reporting mental health symptoms at follow-up was greatest among those who had perceived accessibility via mobile phones to be stressful. Public health prevention strategies focusing on attitudes could include information and advice, helping young adults to set limits for their own and others' accessibility.
Although Mechanical Turk has recently become popular among social scientists as a source of experimental data, doubts may linger about the quality of data provided by subjects recruited from online labor markets. We address these potential concerns by presenting new demographic data about the Mechanical Turk subject population, reviewing the strengths of Mechanical Turk relative to other online and offline methods of recruiting subjects, and comparing the magnitude of effects obtained using Mechanical Turk and traditional subject pools. We further discuss some additional benefits such as the possibility of longitudinal, cross cultural and prescreening designs, and offer some advice on how to best manage a common subject pool.
The current research started from the assumption that one of the major motives driving individuals' Internet use is to relieve psychosocial problems (e.g., loneliness, depression). This study showed that individuals who were lonely or did not have good social skills could develop strong compulsive Internet use behaviors resulting in negative life outcomes (e.g., harming other significant activities such as work, school, or significant relationships) instead of relieving their original problems. Such augmented negative outcomes were expected to isolate individuals from healthy social activities and lead them into more loneliness. Even though previous research suggests that social use of the Internet (e.g., social networking sites, instant messaging) could be more problematic than entertainment use (e.g., downloading files), the current study showed that the former did not show stronger associations than the latter in the key paths leading to compulsive Internet use.
The association between Robert Weiss's bimodal theory of loneliness and Internet use was examined. The degree of social and emotional loneliness was assessed using the Social and Emotional Loneliness scale. This was compared with self-report measures of Internet use and the breadth of one's network of friends, both online and on a face-to-face basis. Low levels of social and emotional loneliness were both associated with high degrees of face-to-face networks of friends, while high levels of Internet use were associated with low levels of social loneliness and high levels of emotional loneliness. This supports recent research that has found that the Internet can decrease social well-being, even though it is often used as a communication tool.
There is growing concern about excessive Internet use and whether this can amount to an addiction. In researching this topic, a valid and reliable assessment instrument is essential. In her survey of Internet addiction, Young designed the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), which provides a basis for developments. The IAT has high face validity, but it has not been subjected to systematic psychometric testing. This study sought to replicate and expand Young's survey, and to examine the IAT more systematically. A questionnaire that existed as a Web page was devised, consisting of the IAT and 15 other questions regarding the respondents' demographic information and Internet usage. Participants were recruited through the Internet, yielding 86 valid responses (29 males and 57 females). Factor analysis of the IAT revealed six factors--salience, excessive use, neglecting work, anticipation, lack of control, and neglecting social life. These factors showed good internal consistency and concurrent validity, with salience being the most reliable. Younger and more recent users reported more problems, mainly concerning the neglect of work and social life. We expected interactive Internet functions to be more addictive; however, this was not found to be so. Overall, the IAT is a valid and reliable instrument that may be used in further research on Internet addiction.
The proportion of having keitai (Japanese mobile phone) has increased rapidly in young children. To research how junior high school students use their own keitai and to examine the impact of using it on their psychology, especially on their friendship, we recruited 651 students, grade 8, from five public junior high schools in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Each student participant completed a questionnaire that we had created. The response rates were 88.8% (n = 578) for participants. The proportion of having their own keitai was 49.3% (n = 285) and that of not having it was 50.7% (n = 293). We found that they used it much more frequently for e-mail than as a phone. Most of them exchanged e-mails between schoolmates, and more than a half of them exchanged e-mails more than 10 times a day. Sociable students estimated that their own keitai was useful for their friendship. But they experienced some insecurity or started staying up late at night engaged in e-mail exchanges, and they thought that they could not live without their own keitai. Our findings suggest that keitai having an e-mail function play a big part in the junior high-school students' daily life, and its impact on students' friendships, psychology, or health should be discussed among students to prevent keitai addiction.
What kinds of psychological features do people have when they are overly involved in usage of the internet? Internet users in Korea were investigated in terms of internet over-use and related psychological profiles by the level of internet use. We used a modified Young's Internet Addiction Scale, and 13,588 users (7,878 males, 5,710 females), out of 20 million from a major portal site in Korea, participated in this study. Among the sample, 3.5% had been diagnosed as internet addicts (IA), while 18.4% of them were classified as possible internet addicts (PA). The Internet Addiction Scale showed a strong relationship with dysfunctional social behaviors. More IA tried to escape from reality than PA and Non-addicts (NA). When they got stressed out by work or were just depressed, IA showed a high tendency to access the internet. The IA group also reported the highest degree of loneliness, depressed mood, and compulsivity compared to the other groups. The IA group seemed to be more vulnerable to interpersonal dangers than others, showing an unusually close feeling for strangers. Further study is needed to investigate the direct relationship between psychological well-being and internet dependency.
This article focuses on the relationship of Internet abuse to psychological disorders and personality factors. It first provides an overview of definitions and criticisms of the concept of Internet abuse. Then,the article looks at different approaches to understanding the relationship of Internet abuse to various psychological disorders and personality factors. Finally, it presents emerging theories about the etiology of Internet abuse.
and Creative ModelingModeling is not simply a process of response mimicry as commonly believed. Modeledjudgments and actions may differ in specific content but embody the same rule. For example, amodel may deal with moral dilemmas that differ widely in the nature of the activity but apply thesame moral standard to them. Modeled activities thus convey rules for generative and innovativebehavior. This higher level learning is achieved through abstract modeling. Once observersextract the...
Applying the uses and gratification theory to improve the understanding of Web usage, the authors explore Web users' motivations and concerns. These motivations and concerns, as well as demographic factors, were studied in three usage contexts: (1) the number of hours per day spent on the Web, (2) the percentage of time spent for business versus personal purposes, and (3) the purchases made from a Web business and, if purchases were made, the approximate number of times purchasers placed orders on the Web. Multivariate factor analysis suggests the presence of seven motivations and concerns regarding Web use. Additionally, the results suggest that these seven factors, along with age, income, gender, and education levels, are significantly correlated with the three usage contexts.
Mobility, immediacy, and instrumentality are found the strongest instrumental motives in predicting the use of cellular phones, followed by intrinsic factors such as affection/sociability. Subscription to functionally enhanced services such as call transfers and caller ID appears to be important predictors for overall cellular phone use, especially for those who are on the go. As expected, the use of cellular phones on buses, cars, and trains or in malls and restaurants is strongly linked to mobility and immediate access gratifications. Further, young and less educated women tend to talk longer on each call. Finally, talking to co-workers and business partners via cellular phones appears to be for instrumental reasons, while talking to immediate family members is for mobility and showing affection.
The CES-D scale is a short self-report scale designed to measure depressive symptomatology in the general population. The items of the scale are symptoms associated with depression which have been used in previously validated longer scales. The new scale was tested in household interview surveys and in psychiatric settings. It was found to have very high internal consistency and adequate test- retest repeatability. Validity was established by pat terns of correlations with other self-report measures, by correlations with clinical ratings of depression, and by relationships with other variables which support its construct validity. Reliability, validity, and factor structure were similar across a wide variety of demographic characteristics in the general population samples tested. The scale should be a useful tool for epidemiologic studies of de pression.
This secondary analysis of television viewing motivations and patterns located two television user types: (1) users of the television medium for time consumption and entertainment; and (2) users of television content for nonescapist, information seeking.
The purpose of this study is to (1) identify addiction symptoms that are uniquely associated with mobile phone use among adolescents in Hong Kong; (2) examine how demographics and psychological attributes (such as leisure boredom, sensation seeking, and self‐esteem) of individuals are related to the addiction symptoms; and (3) explore how these attributes, mobile phone addiction symptoms, and social capital can predict improper use of the mobile phone. Data were gathered from a probability sample of 402 teenagers and young adults aged 14–20 in Hong Kong. Exploratory factor analysis identified four addiction symptoms: “losing control and receiving complaints,” “anxiety and craving,” “withdrawal/escape,” and “productivity loss.” Results show that the higher one scored on leisure boredom and sensation seeking, the higher the likelihood one was addicted. Conversely, subjects who scored high on self‐esteem demonstrated less of such tendency. As hypothesized, subjects who scored low on self‐esteem but high on sensation seeking reported the most improper use of the mobile phone (especially in snapping pictures stealthily when nobody notices).
In an effort to discover a means of empirical distinction between normal and problem television viewing, 2 reliable measures of television addiction were created by writing items to reflect established criteria used in psychiatry for the detection of substance dependence. One measure contains 4 factors measuring distinct components of addictive behavior: heavy viewing, problem viewing, craving for viewing, and withdrawal. Supporting construct validity, these factors were positively related to an alcoholism screening instrument adapted to television use, and to television exposure. The second measure is reliable and unidimensional.
Several authors have studied the risks arising from the growth in mobile phone use (e.g. large debts incurred by young people, banned or dangerous use of cellular phones). The aim of this study is to analyse whether impulsivity, which has often been related to various forms of addictive behaviours, is associated with massive use of and dependence on the mobile phone. In this study, 108 female undergraduate psychology students were screened using a questionnaire evaluating actual use of and perceived dependence on the mobile phone, and with the French adaptation of the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale. This scale identifies four distinct components associated with impulsive behaviour: Urgency, lack of Premeditation, lack of Perseverance, and Sensation Seeking. The results showed that a relationship can be established between the use of and perceived dependence on the cellular phone and two facets of impulsivity: Urgency and lack of Perseverance. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between motives of smartphone use, social relation, and psychological well-being. The correlation analysis shows that the motives of smartphone use were positively related to bonding relations but negatively related to bridging relations. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis finds the associations among motives of smartphone use, social relations, perceived social support, and variables of psychological well-being. The results demonstrate that needs for caring for others were negatively related to loneliness and depression and positively related to self-esteem. However, the communication motives are not a significant predictor to determine self-esteem, loneliness, and depression. In addition, bonding and bridging social relations and social support significantly increase self-esteem and decrease loneliness and depression.
Kraut et al. (1998) reported negative effects of using the Internet on social involvement and psychological well-being among new Internet users in 1995–96. We called the effects a “paradox” because participants used the Internet heavily for communication, which generally has positive effects. A 3-year follow-up of 208 of these respondents found that negative effects dissipated. We also report findings from a longitudinal survey in 1998–99 of 406 new computer and television purchasers. This sample generally experienced positive effects of using the Internet on communication, social involvement, and well-being. However, consistent with a “rich get richer” model, using the Internet predicted better outcomes for extraverts and those with more social support but worse outcomes for introverts and those with less support.
Information technology is entrenched in everyday life; yet, scholars have not firmly established whether this use blesses or vexes individuals and their families. This study analyzes longitudinal data (N =1,367) from the Cornell Couples and Careers Study to assess whether increases in spillover explain changes in distress and family satisfaction associated with technology use. Structural equation models indicate that cell phone use over time (but not computer use) is associated with increases in negative forms of spillover (positive spillover is not significant) and is linked to increased distress and lower family satisfaction. Overall, the evidence suggests that technology use may be blurring work/family boundaries with negative consequences for working people.
Several authors have investigated the risks arising from the growth in mobile phone use (e.g. debts incurred by young people). The aims of the present study are (1) to validate a new questionnaire assessing problematic mobile phone use: the Problematic Mobile Phone Use Questionnaire (PMPUQ), and (2) to investigate the relationships between the PMPUQ and the multi-faceted construct of impulsivity. With these aims, 339 subjects were screened using the PMPUQ and the UPPS Impulsive Behaviour Scale (UPPS) which assesses four distinct components associated with impulsive behaviours (urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance and sensation seeking). The results showed that the PMPUQ has an acceptable fit and assesses four different dimensions of problematic mobile phone use (prohibited use, dangerous use, dependence, financial problems). While each facet of impulsivity played a specific role in mobile phones use, urgency appeared to be the strongest predictor of problematic use. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Oxford Handbook of Internet Psychology brings together many researchers in what can be termed Internet Psychology. Though a very new area of research, Internet Psychology is a fast-growing one. In addition to well-studied areas of investigation, such as social identity theory, computer-mediated communication, and virtual communities, the book also includes articles on topics as diverse as deception and misrepresentation, attitude change and persuasion online, Internet addiction, online relationships, privacy and trust, health and leisure use of the Internet, and the nature of interactivity. With over thirty articles written by experts in the field, it serves to define this emerging area of research. This content is supported by a section covering the use of the Internet as a research tool, including qualitative and quantitative methods, online survey design, personality testing, ethics, and technological and design issues. While it is likely to be a popular research resource to be "dipped into", as a whole book it is coherent enough to act as a single textbook.
This article introduces a cognitive-behavioral model of Pathological Internet Use (PIU). While previous studies on Internet addiction have described behavioral factors, such as withdrawal and tolerance, the present article focuses on the maladaptive cognitions associated with PIU. The cognitive-behavioral model of PIU distinguishes between specific PIU and generalized PIU. Specific PIU refers to the condition in which an individual pathologically uses the Internet for a particular purpose, such as online sex or online gambling, whereas generalized PIU describes a more global set of behaviors. The model implies a more important role of cognitions in PIU, and describes the means by which PIU is both developed and maintained. Furthermore, it provides a framework for the development of cognitive-behavioral interventions for PIU.
This study surveyed 277 undergraduate Internet users, a population considered to be high risk for pathological Internet use (PIU), to assess incidence of PIU as well as characteristics of the Internet and of users associated with PIU. Pathological use was determined by responses to 13 questions which assessed evidence that Internet use was causing academic, work or interpersonal problems, distress, tolerance symptoms, and mood-altering use of the Internet. Approximately one-quarter of students (27.2%) reported no symptoms (NO) while 64.7% reported one to three symptoms (Limited Symptoms) and 8.1% reported four or more symptoms (PIU). Based on popular stereotypes as well as previous research, it was predicted that pathological Internet users would more likely be males, technologically sophisticated, use real-time interactive activities such as online games and chat lines, and feel comfortable and competent online. Further, it was hypothesized that pathological users would be more likely to be lonely and to be socially disinhibited online. Partial confirmation of this model was obtained. Pathological users were more likely to be males and to use online games as well as technologically sophisticated sites, but there was no difference in Internet Relay Chat use. Although reported comfort and competence with the Internet was in the expected direction, differences were not significant. Pathological users scored significantly higher on the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and were socially disinhibited online.
This study considered whether the distinction between core and peripheral criteria for behavioral addiction, previously drawn with respect to computing activities in general, applies in the specific area of Massively Multiplayer Online Game playing. Questionnaire items were administered over the Internet to 442 game players. Factor-analysis of the data supported the previous findings for computing in general. An addiction factor loaded on items tapping previously identified core criteria (conflict, withdrawal symptoms, relapse and reinstatement and behavioral salience) and a (non-pathological) engagement factor loaded on items tapping previously identified peripheral criteria (cognitive salience, tolerance and euphoria). Analysis of response frequencies supported the existence of a developmental process whereby peripheral criteria are met before core criteria. Players who might be considered addicted using a monothetic classification system involving only the core criteria were shown to spend a significantly greater amount of time playing per week than those endorsing only the peripheral criteria. It is concluded that the study supports the idea that it is inappropriate to use some of the previously used criteria for addiction when researching or diagnosing computer-related addictions. Implications of the present findings for Internet-mediated data collection methodologies are also discussed.
The paper presents results from an exploratory study that: (1) developed a theory-based measure of PIU and (2) administered the instrument to a sample of undergraduate students to assess the associations among PIU and several psychosocial variables including, depression, self-esteem, loneliness, and shyness. A new instrument, the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale (GPIUS) was designed to operationalize Davis's [Computers in Human Behavior, 17 (2001), 187] theoretical construct of generalized PIU. The GPIUS and several measures of psychosocial well-being were administered to 386 undergraduate students. Results from this preliminary study indicate that the GPIUS is both reliable and valid. A factor analysis identified seven unique sub-dimensions of the GPIUS, including: mood alteration, perceived social benefits available online, negative outcomes associated with Internet use, compulsive Internet use, excessive amounts of time spent online, withdrawal symptoms when away from the Internet, and perceived social control available online. All GPIUS subscales were correlated with psychosocial health variables including: depression, loneliness, shyness, and self-esteem. A regression analysis identified several important psychosocial and cognitive–behavioral predictors of negative outcomes associated with generalized PIU. Results also suggest that one's preference for computer-mediated social interaction, as opposed to face-to-face interaction, plays a role in the etiology, development, and outcomes of generalized PIU.
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing system in which tasks are distributed to a population of thousands of anonymous workers for completion. This system is increasingly popular with researchers and developers. Here we extend previous studies of the demographics and usage behaviors of MTurk workers. We describe how the worker population has changed over time, shifting from a primarily moderate-income, U.S.-based workforce towards an increasingly international group with a significant population of young, well-educated Indian workers. This change in population points to how workers may treat Turking as a full-time job, which they rely on to make ends meet.
Mobile phone use is banned or regulated in some circumstances. Despite recognized safety concerns and legal regulations, some people do not refrain from using mobile phones. Such problematic mobile phone use can be considered to be an addiction-like behavior. To find the potential predictors, we examined the correlation between problematic mobile phone use and personality traits reported in addiction literature, which indicated that problematic mobile phone use was a function of gender, self-monitoring, and approval motivation but not of loneliness. These findings suggest that the measurements of these addictive personality traits would be helpful in the screening and intervention of potential problematic users of mobile phones.
Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible psychological problems related to excessive cellular phone use in adolescents. Results from 595 participants showed that the potentially excessive user group had a tendency to identify themselves with their cellular phones and to have difficulties in controlling usage. They expressed more depressive symptoms, higher interpersonal anxiety, and lower self-esteem. A positive correlation was also observed between excessive cellular phone use and Internet addiction.
This case involves a homemaker 43 years of age who is addicted to using the Internet. This case was selected as it demonstrates that a nontechnologically oriented woman with a reportedly content home life and no prior addiction or psychiatric history abused the Internet which resulted in significant impairment to her family life. This paper defines addictive use of the Internet, outlines the subject's progression of addictive on-line use, and discusses the implications of such addictive behavior on the new market of Internet consumers.
Born between 1977 and 1997, Net-generation is the first generation to grow up surrounded by home computers, video games, and the Internet. As children of the Baby Boomers, the Internet is the medium of choice for the Net-geners. Based on the assumption that Net-generation has unique characteristics, this study examined (1) how Net-geners addicted to the Internet differ from the non-addicted and (2) how these attributes, together with the seductive properties of the Internet, are related to Internet addiction. Data were gathered from a probability sample of 699 Net-geners between the ages of 16 and 24. Results show that Net-geners addicted to the Internet tend to be young female students. Being emotionally open on the Net and a heavy user of ICQ were most influential in predicting Net-geners' problematic use of the Internet. Addicted Net-geners are also strongly linked to the pleasure of being able to control the simulated world in online games. The finding reinforces previous research that "dependents" of the Internet spend most of their time in the synchronous communication environment engaging in interactive online games, chat rooms, and ICQ for pleasure-seeking or escape, while "non-dependents" use information-gathering functions available on the Internet. Furthermore, Internet addicts tend to watch television significantly less, indicating a displacement effect on traditional media use for the Net-generation.
Mobile phone use is banned or illegal under certain circumstances and in some jurisdictions. Nevertheless, some people still use their mobile phones despite recognized safety concerns, legislation, and informal bans. Drawing potential predictors from the addiction literature, this study sought to predict usage and, specifically, problematic mobile phone use from extraversion, self-esteem, neuroticism, gender, and age. To measure problem use, the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale was devised and validated as a reliable self-report instrument, against the Addiction Potential Scale and overall mobile phone usage levels. Problem use was a function of age, extraversion, and low self-esteem, but not neuroticism. As extraverts are more likely to take risks, and young drivers feature prominently in automobile accidents, this study supports community concerns about mobile phone use, and identifies groups that should be targeted in any intervention campaigns.