The smartphone addiction scale: development and validation of a short version for adolescents

Addictive use of smartphone, depression and anxiety among female undergraduates in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Purpose

This study examined the prevalence and relationship between addictive use of smartphones and symptoms of depression and anxiety among female undergraduates.

Design/methodology/approach

Standardized scales were used to measure the addictive use of smartphones, depression and anxiety among 398 female students (mean age 21.75 years, SD = 2.67) at two large higher institutions in southwest Nigeria and were opportunely sampled. Two hypotheses were tested using Spearman's rho and Mann–Whitney U tests.

Findings

The results showed that 1.01% of the respondents were probable smartphone addicts and 17.34% were at-risk, while 14.32% and 16.33% manifested symptoms of anxiety and moderate-to-severe depression, respectively. Depression (r = 0.24, p < 0.01) and anxiety (r = 0.21, p < 0.01) have significant relationship with addictive use of smartphone. Addictive/at-risk smartphone users significantly scored higher on symptoms of depression (average rank of 233.40) than normal smartphone users (average rank of 191.88); U = 9387.50; z = −2.81, p < 0.05; Also, addictive/at-risk smartphone users reported significantly higher level of anxiety (average rank of 229.27) than normal smartphone users (average rank of 192.81); U = 9689.00; z = −2.46, p < 0.05.

Research limitations/implications

Generalizing these results to a clinical setting and other at-risk demographic groups might prove difficult due to the respondents' condition of homogeneity.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that relationships exist between the addictive use of smartphones and symptoms of depression and anxiety among undergraduate students in southwest Nigeria. Clinicians should assess smartphone use in the management of depression and anxiety disorders.

Social implications

University administrators should target prevention and intervention strategies that would assist students to be taught positive ways of using their smartphones.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the body of knowledge by revealing relationships between smartphone addiction and mental health in an African sample.

Towards the evolution of the mHealth in mental health with youth: the cyber-space used in psychological rehabilitation is becoming wearable into a pocket

The study is focused into the field of tele-mental health with youth. It has three polarities. The first polarity consists on the analysis of the state of art of the guide-lines and reports the recent situation depicted by the American Telemedicine Association and the American Psychiatric Association. The second polarity faces the recent evolution related to the tools available in mHealth to activate remote psychological rehabilitation processes. These tools are today also based on a wearable cyberspace comprehending virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR). The third polarity concludes the study by opening and submitting basic questions on the related activity of the stake-holders, scholars, regulation bodies and workgroups and showing some example of this activity.

Using machine learning to model problematic smartphone use severity: The significant role of fear of missing out

We examined a model of psychopathology variables, age and sex as correlates of problematic smartphone use (PSU) severity using supervised machine learning in a sample of Chinese undergraduate students. A sample of 1097 participants completed measures querying demographics, and psychological measures of PSU, depression and anxiety symptoms, fear of missing out (FOMO), and rumination. We used several different machine learning algorithms to train our statistical model of age, sex and the psychological variables in modeling PSU severity, trained using many simulated replications on a random subset of participants, and externally tested on the remaining subset of participants. Shrinkage algorithms (lasso, ridge, and elastic net regression) performing slightly but statistically better than other algorithms. Results from the training subset generalized to the test subset, without substantial worsening of fit using traditional fit indices. FOMO had the largest relative contribution in modeling PSU severity when adjusting for other covariates in the model. Results emphasize the significance of FOMO to the construct of PSU.

Increased problematic smartphone use among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the community: The utility of Chinese version of Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale

BACKGROUND

Problematic smartphone use is more prevalent in children than before. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale (SAPS).

METHODS

We recruited 319 students aged 9 to 12 years including 70 attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder subjects at a university hospital and 249 controls from elementary school. Finally, 164 males and 138 females were collected for data analysis with mean age of 10.99 ± 0.88 years. Item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency test, and t test were performed to verify the reliability and validity of the SAPS-Chinese version. Correlations were examined for relation between the score in the SAPS-Chinese version and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition diagnostic criteria.

RESULTS

Factor analysis showed two factors: problematic use-associated behaviors and impaired daily functions. Item analysis for every item in the SAPS-Chinese version showed significant differences in t values (p < 0.001) and high correlation in all items (r = 0.37-0.79). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) was equal to 0.94 and Bartlett's test of Sphericity was significant (p < 0.001). Cronbach's α for the SAPS-Chinese version was 0.93. It revealed high reliability and validity.

CONCLUSION

The SAPS-Chinese version is reliable, valid, and suitable for clinical and research uses with satisfactory properties. Applying the modified SAPS-Chinese version offers early detection of problematic smartphone use.

Smartphone Addiction and Its Relationship with Depression in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: This study was aimed to determine the risk factors and at-risk prevalence for smartphone addiction, and also investigate the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression in Necmettin Erbakan University students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 509 students who were enrolled in Necmettin Erbakan University, between March 1 and June 15, 2017. Together with the questionnaire form which was prepared by researchers after literature review, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version and Beck Depression Inventory were applied to the participants under supervision. Results: At-risk prevalence for smartphone addiction in the participants was 46.4%. There were statistically significant differences between the at-risk prevalence for smartphone addiction and gender, age, class they attended, daily smartphone use time, to use or not to use social network sites on smartphone, most used social network sites on smartphone, place of residence and most frequently purpose of smartphone usage. Of the participants, 31.4% were at risk for depression. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the at-risk prevalences for smartphone addiction and depression at a weak level. Conclusion: This study results showed that there are considerable numbers of university students who are at risk for smartphone addiction and depression. For more accurate results about smartphone addiction and depression relationship further clinical researches should be done. Keywords: addiction, depression, mobile phone, students, universities

How addicted are newly admitted undergraduate medical students to smartphones?: a cross-sectional study from Chitwan medical college, Nepal

BACKGROUND

Increasing smartphone use among adolescents in todays' world has made this handy device an indispensable electronic tool, however, it comes at a price of problematic overuse or addiction. We aim to investigate the prevalence of smartphone addiction among undergraduate medical students and explore its association with various demographic and personal factors.

METHODS

A pool of 250 undergraduate students completed a survey composed of socio-demographics information, smartphone-use related variables and 10-point Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version in February 2019.

RESULTS

Smartphone addiction among medical students was estimated at around 36.8% with higher percentage of male smartphone addicts. Phubbing was reported by 37.6% participants with more than 60% reporting overuse. Statistically significant association was observed between smartphone addiction and gender and overuse. Self-acknowledgement of addiction was found to be the biggest predictor of smartphone addiction.

CONCLUSION

This study provides preliminary insights into smartphone use, smartphone addiction and various factors predicting smartphone addiction among early undergraduate medical students from Nepal, which should be extended in future studies. Education policymakers and educators need to develop some strategies encouraging student's smartphone utilization to enhance academic performance.

Interactions of impulsivity, general executive functions, and specific inhibitory control explain symptoms of social-networks-use disorder: An experimental study

While the use of social media and online-communication applications has become an integral part of everyday life, some individuals suffer from an excessive, uncontrolled use of social media despite experiencing negative consequences. In accordance with neuropsychological models of addiction, we assume the tendency of a social-networks-use disorder to be related to an interplay of predisposing personality traits (e.g., impulsivity), and reductions in cognitive functions (e.g., executive functions, inhibitory control). The current study makes first strides towards examining this interplay. In addition to a newly developed social-networks-specific auditory Go-NoGo paradigm, other neuropsychological paradigms were used. Impulsivity and social-networks-use-disorder symptoms were assessed by standardized questionnaires. The results show that the symptom severity of a social-networks-use disorder is mainly associated with attentional impulsivity. General executive functions and specific inhibitory control of social-networks-related cues have no direct effect on symptom severity. However, moderated regression analyses emphasize that increased symptom severity is associated with higher attentional impulsivity, especially if there are additionally reductions in executive functions or specific inhibitory control. The results complement previous findings and inform future research on social-networks-use disorder. The findings support the applicability of theoretical models of addictive behaviors to the social-networks-use disorder and point to social-networks-related specificities regarding attention-related facets.

The association between smartphone addiction and thumb/wrist pain: A cross-sectional study

Many smartphone users experience pain in the thumb/wrist. This pain can be due to certain types of hand injuries as well as inflammation of the extensor pollicis brevis and the abductor pollicis longus tendon sheaths, known as De Quervain tenosynovitis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between smartphone addiction and wrist/thumb pain and to determine the severity of the pain, as well as to calculate the prevalence of De Quervain tenosynovitis among medical students at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) in Jeddah.A total of 387 medical students were enrolled. The smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS-SV) was used to divide participants into the smartphone addict group and non-addict group. Both groups completed the self-administered patient-rated wrist and hand evaluation (PRWHE) questionnaire to evaluate wrist/hand pain. The Finkelstein test was administered to those who reported pain in the thumb/wrist.Two hundred fifty-seven (66.4%) participants were smartphone addicts; 74 (19.1%) had a positive Finkelstein test. There was a significant correlation between smartphone addiction and high PRWHE scores (P = .036).Our study found the prevalence of smartphones addiction among university students to be high (66%), furthermore a correlation between heavy smartphones usage and hand pain was found which indicates that heavy usage of these devices can cause subclinical effects on the human hand.

Homo Interneticus—The Sociological Reality of Mobile Online Being

The digitalization of everyday life has become a common place reality for more than half of the global population. Being connected 24/7 on several devices, being only one click/touch away from a huge amount of digital content, being available for interactions with almost any users from around the globe have become routine. In this paper, we identify the main sociological dimensions of the so-called Homo interneticus—a new manifestation of the human condition—on the basis of new communication technologies. The main research question was: Is time spent online a valid predictor of smartphone addiction? We conducted an experimental survey using a standard online questionnaire incorporating the Smartphone Addiction Scale—Short Version, followed by a request to upload screen captures recording respondents’ phone use during the previous week. We gathered 140 responses between May and July 2019. These were anonymously analyzed. The consistency between self-estimates and phone logs that we found gives encouragement for the development of this approach. A main finding is that the daily time spent on smartphone use is not in itself a strong predictor of addiction. Our research suggests that future studies should distinguish types of usage and investigate motivational springs.

Parental Monitoring and Adolescent Problematic Mobile Phone Use: The Mediating Role of Escape Motivation and the Moderating Role of Shyness

In an attempt to reduce the negative consequences of adolescent media use, parents often monitor their children's online activities. However, research suggests that parental monitoring often does not reduce children's problematic mobile phone use as expected. Based on the results of a survey of 584 Chinese adolescents, we found that parental monitoring positively predicted children's problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) within a Chinese cultural context. The results also showed that children's escape motivation partially mediated this relationship, while their level of shyness moderated both the mediated path and the direct impact of parental monitoring on children's PMPU. The findings suggested that a higher level of shyness increased the likelihood that parental monitoring would increase the child's escape motivation and PMPU. The study results provide guidelines for parents and educators regarding interventions for adolescents' problematic phone use.

Personality associations with Facebook use and tendencies towards Facebook Use Disorder

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Facebook users reported higher levels of extraversion compared to non-users.

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Facebook users reported lower levels of conscientiousness compared to non-users.

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Tendencies towards Facebook-Use Disorder correlated negatively with conscientiousness.

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Tendencies towards Facebook-Use Disorder correlated positively with neuroticism.

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All results are controlled for potential effects of demographic variables.

Introduction

The present study sought to address core issues in the association between personality and the putative disordered use of Facebook. First, to redress the issue of generalisation from samples solely recruited from Facebook, we sought to explore personality differences between users and non-users of Facebook. Second, we aimed to investigate associations between personality and Facebook Use Disorder. The present study contributes a novel perspective to extant research on this topic by moving beyond the broad Big Five of personality, to explore possible relationships between Facebook use and sub-facets of the Big Five; all analyses were additionally controlled for confounding effects of demographic variables.

Methods

3,835 (n = 2,366 males) participants completed socio-demographic variables, the Big Five Inventory and stated their user status on Facebook (i.e. user versus non-user). Facebook-users also completed a Facebook Use Disorder scale assessing addictive tendencies towards Facebook use.

Results

Facebook users reported higher levels of extraversion and lower levels of conscientiousness compared to non-users. Tendencies towards Facebook Use Disorder correlated negatively with conscientiousness and positively with neuroticism in both males and females.

Conclusions

The present results indicate that research samples drawn from Facebook users may be biased with regard to personality (extraversion, conscientiousness). Moreover, certain personality traits – conscientiousness and neuroticism – which may influence the tendency towards Facebook Use Disorder are discussed.

Relation between endurance of deep cervical flexor muscles and physical activity level, perceived stress, sleep quality, and smartphone addiction

Objective: To determine the reference values of deep cervical flexor muscle endurance and its relationship with associated parameters.Methods: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version were used in the study. The craniocervical flexion test was performed to measure the endurance.Results: Endurance (mmHg) values were determined as 24.23 ± 2.39 (women), 24.15 ± 2.65 (men), and 24.19 ± 2.51 (students). The cumulative endurance (mmHg) scores were determined as 27.50 ± 21.29 (women), 27.65 ± 25.42 (men), and 27.57 ± 23.33 (students). There was no correlation between the endurance of the muscles and age, gender, body mass index, physical activity level (except walking score), perceived stress, sleep quality (except sleep latency component), and smartphone addiction (p ˃ 0.05).Conclusion: Defining the reference values of Stage 2 and cumulative endurance would be of great value for preventing, diagnosing, and managing cervical area problems.

Rumination and negative smartphone use expectancies are associated with greater levels of problematic smartphone use: A latent class analysis

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is related to psychopathology symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. However, less is known about how responses to and coping with psychopathology correlate with PSU. We conducted a web survey of 286 American college students, querying depression and anxiety symptoms, rumination (a coping process to avoid negative emotion), PSU, and expectancies about smartphone use for mood alleviation. We conducted latent class analysis (LCA) of PSU symptom ratings, finding support for two latent subgroups of participants, involving mild and severe PSU, especially distinguished by severity of withdrawal symptoms. Rumination and negative smartphone use expectancies (i.e., to reduce distress) positively related to the more symptomatic PSU class. Results are discussed in context of the I-PACE theoretical model of problematic internet use (PIU). We emphasize the importance of response variables in I-PACE, such as internet-related cognitive bias and coping, over background psychopathology variables in influencing PIU and PSU.

The relationships between mobile phone use and depressive symptoms, bodily pain, and daytime sleepiness in Hong Kong secondary school students

INTRODUCTION

Studies have found that increased mobile phone use (MPU) is associated with multiple health issues such as depression, disordered sleep and pain. However, the current situation and interrelationships of these problems remain unexplored in the Hong Kong population.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to understand the situation and problematic use of mobile phones by Hong Kong secondary school students and to investigate depressive symptoms, bodily pain and daytime sleepiness and the associations of these factors with MPU in Hong Kong secondary school students.

METHODS

This quantitative cross-sectional design study was based on self-administered questionnaires completed at five secondary schools. The questionnaire comprised five sections: MPU as measured by the Chinese version of the 10-Item Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (CMPPUS-10); depressive symptoms according to the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 Chinese Version (DASS-21); bodily pain according to the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form Chinese (BPISF-C); daytime sleepiness as measured using the Chinese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (CESS) and socio-demographic questions.

RESULTS

A total of 686 students were recruited. The CMPPUS-10 score correlated positively with the average daily duration of MPU and the presence of depression, daytime sleepiness and bodily pain. Problematic mobile phone users received significantly higher scores for depression severity, bodily pain and daytime sleepiness. Health problems were significantly more severe in female than in male students. Bodily pain and daytime sleepiness mediated the relationship of MPU with depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Problematic MPU was associated with depression, bodily pain and daytime sleepiness. These findings will inform further studies of MPU-related health problems.

Depression and anxiety symptoms are related to problematic smartphone use severity in Chinese young adults: Fear of missing out as a mediator

INTRODUCTION

Recently studies examined mediating psychological constructs accounting for relations between both depression and anxiety with problematic smartphone use (PSU) severity. The aim of the current study was to analyze the fear of missing out (FOMO) as a possible mediator in these relationships.

METHOD

We recruited 1034 Chinese undergraduate students via a web-based survey that measured smartphone use frequency, PSU, depression, anxiety and FOMO.

RESULTS

Structural equation modeling demonstrated that FOMO was significantly related to smartphone use frequency and PSU severity. FOMO significantly mediated relations between anxiety and both smartphone use frequency and PSU severity. FOMO did not account for relations between depression and smartphone use/PSU.

CONCLUSION

This is one of the first studies testing FOMO in relation to PSU severity among Asian participants. FOMO may be an important variable accounting for why some types of psychopathology (e.g., anxiety) are associated with PSU.

Problematic Smartphone Use and Mental Health in Chinese Adults: A Population-Based Study

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been associated with anxiety and depression, but few explored its mental well-being correlates that could co-occur with or be independent of mental symptoms. We studied the associations of PSU with anxiety, depression, and mental well-being in Hong Kong Chinese adults in a probability-based survey (N = 4054; 55.0% females; mean age ± SD 48.3 ± 18.3 years). PSU was measured using Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. Anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated using General Anxiety Disorder screener-2 (GAD-2) and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Mental well-being was measured using Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) and Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS). Multivariable regression analyzed associations adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle-related variables. Associations of PSU with mental well-being were stratified by symptom severity of anxiety (GAD-2 cutoff of 3) and depression (PHQ-2 cutoff of 3). We found that PSU was associated with higher odds of anxiety and depression symptom severity and lower scores of SHS and SWEMWBS. Associations of PSU with lower SHS and SWEMWBS scores remained in respondents who screened negative for anxiety or depression symptoms. To conclude, PSU was associated with anxiety, depression, and impaired mental well-being. Associations of PSU with impaired mental well-being could be independent of anxiety or depression symptoms.

Examining the associations between smartphone use and mother-infant bonding and family functioning: A survey design

Excessive smartphone use has been found to be associated with dysfunctional social and family relations. While most studies of this phenomenon have focused on adolescent and adult addiction, none has yet to focus on mothers with infants. This study examined the association of excessive smartphone use with mother-infant bonding, maternal mental health, and family functioning in Jordan. The predictive value of the study variables with respect to the level of smartphone use was evaluated. A descriptive correlational cross-sectional survey design was used. A sample of 114 mothers with infants was interviewed in person and completed a web-based questionnaire. Approximately 16% reported using smartphones 5 to 14 hours per day; 6.7% described themselves as smartphone addicts. The results suggest that excessive smartphone use may be linked to unhealthy family functioning. No associations were found between smartphone use and mother-infant bonding or maternal mental health. Raising awareness of this linkage and limiting smartphone use are recommended as precautionary measures. Although this study failed to find any association between smartphone use and mother-infant bonding, further studies using empirical methods might have better success.

Evaluating hand performance and strength in children with high rates of smartphone usage: an observational study

[Purpose] This study investigated the interaction effects between the levels of smartphone use and hand dominance on handgrip, pinch strengths, and functional hand performance in children. [Participants and Methods] A total of 60 children aged between 9 and 15 were assigned into two groups: Group A (high-frequency smartphone users) and Group B (low-frequency smartphone users). Use levels were determined according to the smartphone addiction scale-short version. A hand dynamometer and pinch gauge were used to measure handgrip and pinch strength respectively. Functions of the upper extremity and hand were scored using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire. [Results] Group A participants had reduced measurements in hand grip and pinch strength, especially in the dominant hand. However, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores indicated that hand function was decreased in the dominant hand whether the child was a high- or low-frequency smartphone user. [Conclusion] Results indicated that high levels of smartphone use diminished hand and pinch-grip strengths as well as and hand function. That is, hand and pinch-grip strengths were reduced in the dominant hands of high-frequency smartphone users. However, hand functions were affected in the dominant hands among both high and low-level smartphone users.

Sedentary Behavior and Problematic Smartphone Use in Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Self-Control

This study investigated smartphone use characteristics including the purpose of smartphone use (i.e., leisure, learning, or work) and situational smartphone use (i.e., sitting, standing, or moving about) in Chinese adolescents. Moreover, it tested the moderating role of self-control in the link between sedentary behavior and problematic smartphone use. A total of 947 adolescents completed measures of the purpose of their smartphone use, situational smartphone use, sedentary behavior, self-control, time on smartphone, and smartphone addiction. Results showed that the majority of smartphone use was for leisure and learning, and 90.9% of adolescents reported typically sitting as they used the smartphone. Problematic smartphone use was positively correlated with sedentary behavior and negatively correlated with self-control. Moreover, the relationship between sedentary behavior and problematic smartphone use was moderated by self-control, in that the negative correlation was stronger for adolescents with low self-control and weaker for those with high self-control. These results contribute to the understanding of when sedentary behavior is associated with problematic smartphone use. Several limitations and implications are discussed in this study.

Predicting tendencies towards the disordered use of Facebook's social media platforms: On the role of personality, impulsivity, and social anxiety

The present study aimed at investigating personality underpinnings of Social Networks Use Disorder. Instead of focusing on social media in broad or on a single platform, specifically, it was focused on various social media platforms, namely, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, each offering different functions to their users. N = 494 (n = 358 males) participants filled in questionnaires on the Big Five of personality, impulsivity, and social anxiety. Additionally, participants who endorsed using Facebook, and/or WhatsApp, and/or Instagram also completed scales assessing tendencies towards Facebook, and/or WhatsApp, and/or Instagram Use Disorder. Generalized linear models revealed that impulsivity and especially extraversion were positively associated with Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram Use Disorder scores. Conscientiousness (negatively) and particularly neuroticism (positively) were only significantly related to Facebook Use Disorder scores. However, the non-significant associations of WhatsApp and Instagram Use Disorder scores with neuroticism were most likely due to neuroticism's overlap with impulsivity and social anxiety. In conclusion, the present study provides insights into potential common and distinct predisposing factors for the development of Use Disorders of various social media platforms providing different content and functions to their users. Future studies should aim at causally investigating why different platforms are addictive to people with distinct personality profiles.

Validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version for university students and adult population

Abstract This study sought evidence of the validity of the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version for a Brazilian sample of 718 individuals, amongst university students (n = 387, M age = 22.1 years) and adults (n = 331, M age = 35.2 years), who completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the scale. The transcultural adaptation was carried out using specific protocols as recommended by expert’s committees. The factorial structure was evaluated by three methods: Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, and Network Analysis. The adjustment parameters were not adequate and Principal Component Analysis explained 39.2% of the variance. The scale showed good reliability (α = 0.81) and a 39.4% prevalence of problematic phone use. The Network Analysis indicated that the correlations between the items were similar in the two populations. This is an unpublished study evaluating the usage pattern of smartphones in a sample of the adult population from all Brazilian states.

Reliability and Validity of the LifeWindows Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Questionnaire Among HIV+ Patients in Shanghai

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article was to examine the validity and reliability of the LifeWindows Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence Questionnaire (LW-IMB-AAQ) among HIV+ patients in Shanghai.

METHODS

We surveyed 426 HIV+ patients in Shanghai's Putuo District to examine the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. The questionnaire includes self-reported demographic characteristics, the modified version of the Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS Antiretroviral Medication Self-Report (CPCRA) and LW-IMB-AAQ. CPCRA was used to calculate ART adherence. LW-IMB-AAQ, including the information section, the motivation section and the behavioral skills section, was used to analyze patients' ART adherence. We analyzed data by means, standard deviation, critical ratio, and item-total correlation. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability. Validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), convergent validity and discriminant validity.

RESULTS

Item analysis showed that except for motivation item 1, all items were acceptable. For reliability, Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the three sections and the total scale were all higher than 0.7, with interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) all higher than 0.6 (p<0.001). The Spearman-Brown coefficient for the total scale was 0.825. For validity, results showed that the information section could be divided into two subscales, motivation section and behavioral skills section could be divided into three and two subscales, respectively. The final model demonstrated good validity (p=0.471, χ ²/df=0.960, CFI=1.000, GFI=0.994 and RMSEA<0.001) without motivation item 4.

CONCLUSION

Excluding motivation items 1 and 4, the LifeWindows Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills ART Adherence Questionnaire (LW-IMB-AAQ) demonstrated good validity and reliability among HIV+ patients in Shanghai.

Self-Reported Screen Time on Social Networking Sites Associated With Problematic Smartphone Use in Chinese Adults: A Population-Based Study

Background: Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been associated with screen time in general, but little is known about the effect of different screen-based activities. We examined the associations of self-reported time spent on overall and specific screen-based activities with PSU and its addictive symptoms in Hong Kong Chinese adults. Methods: We analyzed data from 562 smartphone owners (56.5% female; 82.1% aged 25-64 years) in a population-based telephone survey in 2017. PSU was measured using Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (range 10-60) which includes symptoms of daily-life disturbance, withdrawal, cyberspace-oriented relationship, overuse, and tolerance. Screen time was self-reported as average hours per day spent on the internet, online book/newspaper/magazine, online video, and social networking sites (SNS). Multivariable linear regression analyzed the associations of self-reported screen time with PSU severity and symptoms. Interaction effects of sex, age group, educational attainment, and monthly household income were examined. Results: Self-reported time spent on overall screen-based activities was associated with PSU severity (β = 1.35, 95% CI 0.15, 2.55) and withdrawal and overuse symptoms, after adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related variables. Independent association was observed for self-reported SNS time with PSU severity (β = 1.42, 95% CI 0.35, 2.49) and symptoms of withdrawal and cyberspace-oriented relationship, after mutually adjusting for time on other activities. The strongest association between self-reported SNS time and PSU severity was observed in younger than older adults (β = 4.36, 95% CI 2.58, 6.13; P for interaction = 0.004). Conclusions: The independent association of self-reported SNS time with PSU and core addictive symptoms highlighted the addiction potential of SNS use, particularly in younger users.

Social Media Usage and Development of Psychiatric Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence: A Review

Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, are now part of almost everyone's social life, especially for the newer generations. Children and teenagers grew up together with these Internet-based services, which have become an integral part of their personal and social life. However, as reported in various studies, psychological and psychiatric problems are sometimes associated with problematic usage of social media. The primary purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the cognitive, psychological, and social outcomes correlated with a problematic use of social media sites during the developmental stages, from age 10 to 19 years. With a specific focus on depression, anxiety, eating, and neurodevelopmental disorders, the review also discusses evidence related to genetic and neurobiological issues, together with the implications in clinical work and future directions under a multidisciplinary perspective. While the scientific community has made significant progress in enhancing our understanding of the impact of social media on teenagers' lives, more research integrating biological and environmental factors is required to fully elucidate the development of these disorders.

Fear of Missing Out and Smartphone Addiction Mediates the Relationship Between Positive and Negative Affect and Sleep Quality Among Chinese University Students

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The widespread use of social media on smartphones has lead to the fear of missing out (FoMO) and smartphone addiction among a minority of adolescents and adults. However, few studies have investigated the impact of trait affect on sleep quality via FoMO and smartphone addiction. The present study examined whether FoMO (trait-FoMO and state-FoMO) and smartphone addiction mediated the relationship between positive affect (PA)/negative affect (NA) and sleep quality, and the prevalence of sleep disturbance among Chinese university students.

METHODS

The sample comprised 1,164 university students and they completed a survey which included the Chinese Trait-State Fear of Missing Out Scale (T-SFoMOS-C), Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI), International Positive and Negative Affect Scale Short-Form (I-PANAS-SF), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

RESULTS

The prevalence of sleep disturbance was found to be 15.98% among Chinese university students. The serial multiple mediation effects indicated that PA directly impacted on sleep quality, but the mediation effects of trait-FoMO and state-FoMO were not found. NA impacted on sleep quality via the mediation effects of trait-FoMO/state-FoMO and smartphone addiction.

CONCLUSION

Negative affect was positively associated with poor sleep quality, which was partially mediated by FoMO and smartphone addiction among Chinese university students. Individuals with high negative affect were more likely to have high levels of FoMO and were more prone to smartphone addiction as well as experiencing poor sleep quality. These findings provide an evidence base for emotion management, prevention of smartphone addiction, and sleep improvement.

Rates of Alexithymia and Its Association With Smartphone Addiction Among a Sample of University Students in Egypt

INTRODUCTION

Alexithymia is characterized by difficulties in describing feelings. Many studies have shown that there is a relation between alexithymia and different types of addictions. Nowadays, smartphone addiction is proposed to be a global problem. The current study focuses on the rates of alexithymia and its association with smartphone addiction in an Egyptian university.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted in Ain Shams University. A sample of 200 university students was surveyed using Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) and Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV).

RESULTS

The results showed that 44 students (22%) had alexithymia. It was also found that around one third of the sample (N=65, 32.5%) met the criteria of smartphone addiction. There was a strong association between alexithymia and smartphone addiction (OR=4.33, 95% CI 2.15-8.74, p= < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study supports existing literature indicating the strong association between alexithymia and smartphone addiction.

Burnout, Perceived Stress, Sleep Quality, and Smartphone Use: A Survey of Osteopathic Medical Students

Context

Burnout is a psychological syndrome that results from prolonged exposure to stressful work activities and includes 3 dimensions: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and low sense of personal accomplishment (PA). Burnout is a widespread problem in numerous professions but is particularly high among medical students, residents, and early-career physicians compared with college graduates of similar age. However, minimal research has addressed burnout in osteopathic medical students.

Objective

To assess levels of burnout in osteopathic medical students and to examine the relationship among burnout, perceived stress, sleep quality, and smartphone use.

Methods

This study used a cross-sectional study design and an anonymous, electronic questionnaire service to administer the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Perceived Stress Scale-4, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index, and the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version.

Results

A total of 385 participants (mean [SD] age, 25 [2.4] years; 208 [54.0%] women; 286 [74.3%] white; 138 [35.8%] second-year osteopathic medical students [OMSs]) completed the survey. Of the 385 participants, 9 (2.3%) reported high EE, 67 (17.4) reported high DP, and 310 (80.5) reported a high level of low PA. When comparing dimensions of burnout by gender, only levels of PA differed by gender, with men reporting higher levels of burnout compared with women (χ1 2=5.2, P=.022). Further, levels of DP differed by year in medical school (χ2=17.3, P=.008), with post-hoc comparisons showing differences between OMS I and OMS III (F=4.530, df=3, P=.004). Linear regression models showed that higher perceived stress (standardized β=0.5, P<.001), poorer sleep quality (standardized β=0.2, P=.001), and higher smartphone addiction scores (standardized β=0.1, P<.001) were associated with higher EE. Similarly, higher perceived stress (standardized β=0.2, P<.001), poorer sleep quality (standardized β=0.2, P=.001), and higher smartphone addiction scores (standardized β=0.2, P=.001) were associated with higher DP. Only higher perceived stress was associated with higher levels of low PA (standardized β=−0.4, P<.001).

Conclusions

These findings suggest independent associations with EE, DP, perceived stress, sleep quality, and smartphone use. Additional research with a larger, more diverse sample is needed to confirm these findings. If confirmed, wellness interventions can be designed to target 2 modifiable factors: sleep quality and smartphone use.

Latent profiles of family background, personality and mental health factors and their association with behavioural addictions and substance use disorders in young Swiss men

Background:

Recent theories suggest that behavioural addictions and substance use disorders may be the result of the same underlying vulnerability. The present study investigates profiles of family background, personality and mental health factors and their associations with seven behavioural addictions (to the internet, gaming, smartphones, internet sex, gambling, exercise and work) and three substance use disorder scales (for alcohol, cannabis and tobacco).

Methods:

The sample consisted of 5287 young Swiss men (mean age = 25.42) from the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF). A latent profile analysis was performed on family background, personality and mental health factors. The derived profiles were compared with regards to means and prevalence rates of the behavioural addiction and substance use disorder scales.

Results:

Seven latent profiles were identified, ranging from profiles with a positive family background, favourable personality patterns and low values on mental health scales to profiles with a negative family background, unfavourable personality pattern and high values on mental health scales. Addiction scale means, corresponding prevalence rates and the number of concurrent addictions were highest in profiles with high values on mental health scales and a personality pattern dominated by neuroticism. Overall, behavioural addictions and substance use disorders showed similar patterns across latent profiles.

Conclusion:

Patterns of family background, personality and mental health factors were associated with different levels of vulnerability to addictions. Behavioural addictions and substance use disorders may thus be the result of the same underlying vulnerabilities.

Does smartphone addiction affect social interaction: a study among dental students in Hyderabad

OBJECTIVE

Technology has revolutionized the way people communicate and changed communication in many ways. The evolution of the smartphone may shed some light on this. Though smartphones are user friendly, they can be detrimental to a user's health if they are used in an addictive manner. With easy accessibility to smartphones, dental students may fall prey to smartphone addiction (SA) which in turn may affect their social interaction. Therefore, this paper aimed to examine whether SA affects social interaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate dental students from five dental institutions in Hyderabad. Participants received a questionnaire assessing SA [15 item-Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale (SAPS-15)], social interaction [20 item-Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) ). The chi-square (χ²)-test was used to determine the association between SA and social interaction anxiety. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The study comprised 470 (30.7%) males and 1060 (69.3%) females. Multiple logistic regression revealed females [1.65; confidence interval (CI) = 0.88-1.88] and third year students (2.12; CI: 1.45-2.23) had significantly higher odds for social interaction anxiety (p ≤ 0.05*).

CONCLUSION

Therefore, the present study supported the hypothesis that SA affects social interaction anxiety among undergraduate dental students.

“A Cancer in the Minds of Youth?” A Qualitative Study of Problematic Smartphone Use among Undergraduate Students

There is empirical evidence to suggest that problematic smartphone use (PSU) is associated with mental health problems including anxiety in educational settings. This qualitative study explored attitudes towards—and self-reported impacts of—smartphone use among British young adult students, as well as perceived causes of PSU. Free-response written accounts were gathered from 265 British undergraduates at an English university. Open-ended questions were asked about their attitudes towards smartphone use, their reasons for using their smartphones, and what they perceived as the consequences of their smartphone use. Narratives were analyzed using framework analysis and a thematic framework was identified. The three main consequences of PSU described by participants were (1) uncontrolled frequent checking of smartphones, (2) using smartphones late at night, and irrelevant use of smartphones in class. The main reported explanations for PSU were fear of missing messages, boredom in class, poor self-regulation, and external reasons (e.g., boring lectures). Smartphone use was reported to have both positive and negative impacts on young adults’ life satisfaction, social relationships, physical health, and study. Many participants reported that they need to develop better self-regulation to address their PSU. Findings suggest that smartphone use can have benefits as well as potentially causing harm among university students. PSU can—in some cases—be understood as reflecting mental well-being issues, poor self-regulation, and social problems.

Cell Phone Use Habits Among the Spanish Population: Contribution of Applications to Problematic Use

Mobile phone abuse may be associated with health problems as well as with interferences in daily life. However, beyond the mobile as a device, the contributions of specific utilities and applications to the problematic mobile phone use remains to be analyzed. To address this important question we conducted 1,126 online interviews in Spain with participants aged 16 to 65 who are representative of the general population. The aim of the study was to analyze the patterns and differences of cell phone use based on habitual use, abuse, and problematic use, considering the most frequently used utilities and applications. Additional variables used were personal perception of cell phones, intensity of use, and participant's lifestyle with regard to entertainment and the maintenance of healthy habits. Further, we aimed to analyze difference between problematic and non-problematic mobile phone users in the utilization of applications, controlling for additional variables such as age, gender, educational level, consumption of tobacco and alcohol and illegal drugs. Results show that problematic use is consistent with the self-perception of abuse and is related to internet browsing, social media, music, and mobile games; particular applications of interest include Facebook, music applications, and Twitter. Furthermore, among problematic users, a pattern of interference with other activities or inappropriate use in certain contexts is observed, with a differential pattern of entertainment and abandonment of healthy habits. Finally, two binary logistic regression analyses demonstrated that beyond the cell phones themselves, specific utilities and applications such as browsing, chatting, or downloading and listening to music contribute to the differences between problematic and non-problematic users. Specifically, the use of Facebook, Twitter, and music applications have the greatest power to discriminate between the two types of users.

Unique versus shared associations between self-reported behavioral addictions and substance use disorders and mental health problems: A commonality analysis in a large sample of young Swiss men

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Behavioral addictions (BAs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) tend to co-occur; both are associated with mental health problems (MHPs). This study aimed to estimate the proportion of variance in the severity of MHPs explained by BAs and SUDs, individually and shared between addictions.

METHODS

A sample of 5,516 young Swiss men (mean = 25.47 years old; SD = 1.26) completed a self-reporting questionnaire assessing alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco use disorders, illicit drug use other than cannabis, six BAs (Internet, gaming, smartphone, Internet sex, gambling, and work) and four MHPs (major depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, social anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder). Commonality analysis was used to decompose the variance in the severity of MHPs explained (R²) by BAs and SUDs into independent commonality coefficients. These were calculated for unique BA and SUD contributions and for all types of shared contributions.

RESULTS

BAs and SUDs explained between a fifth and a quarter of the variance in severity of MHPs, but individual addictions explained only about half of this explained variance uniquely; the other half was shared between addictions. A greater proportion of variance was explained uniquely or shared within BAs compared to SUDs, especially for social anxiety disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

The interactions of a broad range of addictions should be considered when investigating their associations with MHPs. BAs explain a larger part of the variance in MHPs than do SUDs and therefore play an important role in their interaction with MHPs.

Risk factors for problematic smartphone use in children and adolescents: a review of existing literature

BACKGROUND

The percentage of smartphone users-especially among minors-is growing, and so is the body of literature hinting at increasing rates of problematic smartphone use in children and adolescents. However, comprehensive reviews regarding this issue are still scarce.

OBJECTIVE

The main aim of this review was to provide an overview of studies focusing on specific risk factors predicting problematic smartphone use in children and adolescents.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in Google Scholar and PubMed.

RESULTS

The search yielded 38 articles that met the criteria for inclusion in this review. Research regarding influencing factors such as gender, age, and social, family, and personality factors, as well as duration of use and use patterns, could be found. Results seem to cautiously suggest that using a smartphone for gaming and social networking might be risk factors, whereas having good friendships might constitute a protective factor. Also, female adolescents seem to be prone to a higher smartphone addiction risk than male adolescents. For family, school, and personality factors, results are still scarce, and more research is needed. Nevertheless, strict parenting, low self-control, and low self-esteem seem to increase risks for problematic use, whereas academic motivation and school success might decrease this risk.

CONCLUSION

A concise theoretical conceptualization of problematic smartphone use and corresponding standardized measures are needed to increase comparability of future studies and to thereby add to a clearer understanding of this contested concept.

Prevalence of problematic smartphone usage and associated mental health outcomes amongst children and young people: a systematic review, meta-analysis and GRADE of the evidence

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade, smartphone use has become widespread amongst today's children and young people (CYP) which parallels increases in poor mental health in this group. Simultaneously, media concern abounds about the existence of 'smartphone addiction' or problematic smartphone use. There has been much recent research concerning the prevalence of problematic smartphone use is in children and young people who use smartphones, and how this syndrome relates to mental health outcomes, but this has not been synthesized and critically evaluated.

AIMS

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the prevalence of PSU and quantify the association with mental health harms.

METHODS

A search strategy using Medical Subject Headings was developed and adapted for eight databases between January 1, 1st 2011 to October 15th 2017. No language restriction was applied. Of 924 studies identified, 41 were included in this review, three of which were cohort studies and 38 were cross sectional studies. The mental health outcomes were self-reported: depression; anxiety; stress; poor sleep quality; and decreased educational attainment, which were synthesized according to an a priori protocol.

RESULTS

The studies included 41,871 CYP, and 55% were female. The median prevalence of PSU amongst CYP was 23.3% (14.0-31.2%). PSU was associated with an increased odds of depression (OR = 3.17;95%CI 2.30-4.37;I2 = 78%); increased anxiety (OR = 3.05 95%CI 2.64-3.53;I2 = 0%); higher perceived stress (OR = 1.86;95%CI 1.24-2.77;I2 = 65%); and poorer sleep quality (OR = 2.60; 95%CI; 1.39-4.85, I2 = 78%).

CONCLUSIONS

PSU was reported in approximately one in every four CYP and accompanied by an increased odds of poorer mental health. PSU is an evolving public health concern that requires greater study to determine the boundary between helpful and harmful technology use. Policy guidance is needed to outline harm reduction strategies.

Media use during adolescence: the recommendations of the Italian Pediatric Society

BACKGROUND

The use of media device, such as smartphone and tablet, is currently increasing, especially among the youngest. Adolescents spend more and more time with their smartphones consulting social media, mainly Facebook, Instagram and Twitter because. Adolescents often feel the necessity to use a media device as a means to construct a social identity and express themselves. For some children, smartphone ownership starts even sooner as young as 7 yrs, according to internet safety experts.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyzed the evidence on media use and its consequences in adolescence.

RESULTS

In literature, smartphones and tablets use may negatively influences the psychophysical development of the adolescent, such as learning, sleep and sigh. Moreover, obesity, distraction, addiction, cyberbullism and Hikikomori phenomena are described in adolescents who use media device too frequently. The Italian Pediatric Society provide action-oriented recommendations for families and clinicians to avoid negative outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Both parents and clinicians should be aware of the widespread phenomenon of media device use among adolescents and try to avoid psychophysical consequences on the youngest.

Tell Me a Story: Socio-Emotional Functioning, Well-Being and Problematic Smartphone Use in Adolescents With Specific Learning Disabilities

Although Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) are described as specific difficulties in one or more academic areas, often socio-emotional problems are also reported to be related to well-being and school engagement. Moreover, recent evidence shows that emotional problems and reduced social support predict problematic use of new technologies, such as a smartphone, that can, in turn, increase these problems. In this study, we aimed to investigate socio-emotional functioning and its relation to well-being, school engagement, and problematic smartphone use. Social and emotional skills of 19 adolescents with a diagnosis of SLD and 19 control adolescents were assessed through a narrative test; adolescents were requested to narrate complete stories elicited by pictures representing social situations. Information on well-being and problematic smartphone use were collected through questionnaires. The comparison between groups showed differences in cognitive-social skills, although no significant differences in emotional functioning were found. Additionally, the perception of the social environment as supportive and trustworthy was related to general well-being for both groups, whereas the perception of limits and rules set by the adult world appeared to be related to a decreased investment in learning processes only for the SLD students. Finally, correlation analysis showed that smartphone use was associated with reduced perception of social support and to a decreased ability to understand and solve social situations. These results assert the critical role played by social information processing and social support in terms of well-being in adolescence, and contribute to enhancing knowledge of the mechanisms underlying problematic smartphone use in a clinical sample.

Prevalence and Correlates of Excessive Smartphone Use among Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Increasing smartphone use has led to the introduction of smartphone addiction as a behavioral addiction with detrimental effects on health. This phenomenon has not been widely studied in the Indian context. This study assessed the rate of smartphone addiction in a sample of medical students, with a focus on its correlation with sleep quality and stress levels.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2016 and January 2017 in 195 medical students. Their smartphone use, level of smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and perceived stress levels were measured using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), respectively.

RESULTS

Of the 195 students, 90 (46.15%) had smartphone addiction as per the scale. A self-reported feeling of having smartphone addiction, use of the smartphone right before sleeping, PSS scores, and PSQI scores were found to be significantly associated with the SAS-SV scores. Significant positive correlations were observed between the SAS-SV and PSS-10 scores, and the SAS-SV and PSQI scores.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high magnitude of smartphone addiction in medical students of a college in Western Maharashtra. The significant association of this addiction with poorer sleep quality and higher perceived stress is a cause for concern. The high self-awareness among students about having smartphone addiction is promising. However, further studies are required to determine whether this self-awareness leads to treatment seeking. Further studies are required to explore our finding of the association of smartphone addiction with using the smartphone before sleeping.

Psychometric Properties and Demographic Correlates of the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version Among Chinese Children and Adolescents in Hong Kong

Nearly all children and teens in Hong Kong own a smartphone. There is currently no validated instrument that measures whether they use their phone too much. This study tested the psychometric properties of a translated Chinese version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) and examined the demographic correlates of smartphone addiction among Hong Kong children and adolescents. A total of 1,901 primary school children and secondary school pupils were recruited from 15 Hong Kong schools. Furthermore, 1,797 primary caregivers were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire on their socioeconomic status and educational attainment. The study used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify the factor structure of SAS-SV for half the participants (n = 951), while confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess the goodness-of-fit of EFA models for the remaining half (n = 951). Spearman correlations were used to assess the convergent validity of the SAS-SV, taking account of time spent by subjects on phones per day, the Smart Device Addiction Screening Tool (SDAST), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). EFA generated a three-factor model (with factors labeled "dependency," the incidence of a "problem," and "time spent"). CFA confirmed this model yielded an acceptable goodness-of-fit (Comparative Fit Index = 0.96, Tucker Lewis Index = 0.95, and root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.06). SAS-SV was positively correlated with SDAST (ρ = 0.59), PSQI (ρ = 0.29), and CES-D (ρ = 0.35), and negatively correlated with MSPSS (ρ = -0.10). A linear regression model showed that female adolescents, those with highly educated caregivers and those who spent more time using smartphones on their holidays, had on average higher SAS-SV scores, meaning they showed greater vulnerability to becoming addicted. The study found that SAS-SV is a valid scale for estimating excessive smartphone use among Hong Kong children and adolescents.

Indonesian Version of Addiction Rating Scale of Smartphone Usage Adapted from Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) In Junior High School

BACKGROUND

The increase of smartphone user among Indonesian junior high school students, particularly for teenagers, indicates the addiction factor of the smartphone.

AIM

This research is designed to adapt the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SASS-SV) to Indonesian version based on cultural adaptation of the rating scale.

METHODS

This study involves 300 participants consisted of 151 of male children and 149 female children with an average age is 13.27 years-of-old. The validity of concurrent was used to obtain the validity, while the internal consistency and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) were conducted to confirm the reliability of the rating scale.

RESULTS

In purpose to measure internal consistency, the Cronbach alpha has been applied. The Cronbach alpha value was 0.740, and Concurrent validity was checked to NMP the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) based on Indonesian version. The analysis of ROC showed that the value of Area under the Curve (AUC) was 0.997 (0.990-1.000), with cut-off value accounted for ≥ 32, a sensitivity value of 0.91 and specificity value was 0.973 for the male children. On the hand of female children, the results showed similarity with the AUC was 0.996 (0.998-1.000), and the cut-off, sensitivity and specificity values were accounted for ≥ 34, 0.91, and 0.974 respectively.

CONCLUSION

The Indonesian version of SAS-SV provided acceptable validation results as well as the reliability, and this version can be used to evaluate the smartphone addiction in Indonesia.

Identifying Indicators of Smartphone Addiction Through User-App Interaction

We introduce a new approach to monitoring the activity of smartphone users based on their physical interactions with the interface. Typical events are taps, scrolling and typing, carried out to interact with apps. As compared to other measures, this directly encapsulates potential problematic physical smartphone behaviour as a signal. The approach contrasts against conventions such as self-reporting or timing activity sessions, and it focusses on active rather than passive smartphone activity. Using this alternative method, we collected all user interface interaction events from a sample of 64 participants over a period of 8 weeks, using a bespoke monitoring app called Tymer. User Smartphone Addiction was seen to significantly correlate with high levels of interaction with Lifestyle apps, particularly for female users. Interactions with Social apps in general were also associated with Smartphone Addiction. In particular, user interactions with Snapchat correlated with Smartphone Addiction, represented across all types of interface interaction. This is significant given the widespread usage of Snapchat by teenagers, and we hypothesise that the app's design provides a particularly strong pathway in support of Smartphone Addiction.

Evaluating the relationship between smartphone addiction/overuse and musculoskeletal pain among medical students at Qassim University

Background:

Smartphone use has greatly increased in recent days, and most of the daily tasks are done through these devices. As a result, long time use may involve bad posture that may result in musculoskeletal pain. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the association between addiction/overuse of smartphones and musculoskeletal pain.

Aim:

To determine the prevalence of addictive/overuse of smartphones among medical students and to investigate if there is an association between smartphone addiction and musculoskeletal pain.

Method:

A cross-sectional study conducted at Qassim University, medical college. The Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV) was used to measure the level of smartphone addiction while the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ) was utilized to evaluate the musculoskeletal pain.

Results:

The prevalence of smartphone addiction among medical students was relatively high (60.3%). The most frequent pain related to smartphone addiction was in the neck (60.8%), followed by lower back (46.8%), shoulder (40.0%). The academic year level was statistically associated with the level of smartphone addiction. Moreover, we found a significant relationship between musculoskeletal pain and smartphone addiction at certain body regions, neck, wrist/hand and knees, Other musculoskeletal parameters included in the test were found to have no statistically significant association.

Conclusion:

More than half of the medical students identified as addicted to smartphones. The most common musculoskeletal pain was the neck, lower back, and shoulder. The academic year level found to have a significant association with the level of smartphone addiction while musculoskeletal pain such as neck, wrist, and knee were the independent significant factors of smartphone addiction; therefore, it is important to educate the community about the effect of being addicted to smartphone use in order to prevent the consequences of this behavior.