Psychological Distress, Emotion Dysregulation, and Coping Behaviour: a Theoretical Perspective of Problematic Smartphone Use

The chain mediating role of rumination and social withdrawal in the relationship between smartphone distraction and depression among Chinese nursing students

Smartphone distraction (SD) is closely related to depression, and the prevalence of SD among nursing students is gradually increasing. However, the potential mechanism of the effect of SD on nursing students' depression is unclear. A total of 574 nursing students were assessed using Smartphone Distraction Scale, Ruminative Response Scale, Hikikomori Questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The results indicated that SD among nursing students had an impact on depression through four pathways: (1) SD was positively associated with depression (β = 0.353, P < 0.001); (2) Rumination (β = 0.199, 95% CI: 0.081 to 0.162) and social withdrawal (β = 0.061, 95% CI: 0.034 to 0.091) mediated the effects of SD on depression, respectively; and (3) Rumination and social withdrawal played a chain mediating role in the effect of SD on nursing students' depression (β = 0.027, 95% CI: 0.015 to 0.042). The negative impact of SD on nursing students' mental health should not be taken lightly. Schools and hospitals should guide nursing students to use smartphones correctly, including providing mental health education and professional psychological counselling; families could play a supervisory role and communicate regularly to understand the psychological state and learning of nursing students. These measures can help nursing students cope with stress and reduce the risk of depression.

Phubbing and its impact on the individual's psychological well-being

Increasingly, smartphones have become a part of people's everyday lives, and are now considered by many to be an indispensable social accessory. Since attachment to a smartphone could have negative psychological consequences, a burgeoning new area of research has emerged which examines the effects of smartphones on individuals' well-being. Hence, this study focuses on phubbing - one's engagement with the smartphone during a face-to-face conversation with another person or group of people - and its association with psychological well-being. For this investigation, a quantitative descriptive approach has been adopted involving a sample of 370 women and men from Spain between 25 and 60 years old. The survey was distributed during late 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. The Phubbing Behaviors Survey was conducted, comprising five dimensions (cultural, technological, social, communicational, and psychological), and a total of 33 items requiring responses on a 5-point Likert scale. This survey was used in conjunction with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), consisting of four categories (somatic symptoms, social dysfunction, anxiety and insomnia, and severe depression), and 7 items per category. The findings reveal a positive correlation between phubbing and severe depression and, young women under 25 years old show higher levels of somatic symptoms than men in the same age group. This study demonstrates the need to raise awareness via health education and to promote healthy use of the Internet to prevent psychological distress resulting from phubbing.

Social Media Use and Sleep Quality Among Secondary School Students in Aseer Region: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Use of different social media platforms has increased radically over the past decade, emerging as an important part of adolescents and young people's everyday life. This might exert potential adverse effects on sleep quality and daytime performance of young adults.

Aim of Study

To assess the relation between use of social media platforms and sleep quality among public secondary school students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 961 students in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Students were asked to fill in a structured interview questionnaire covering personal data, pattern of social media use, sleep quality using The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and their mental health status using the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21).

Results

Students' ages ranged from 15 to 20 years with a mean age of 16.7 ± 2.1 years old. A total of 570 (59.3%) students were females. Tiktok (80%), Snapchat (77.9%), Instagram (63.8%) and YouTube (58.8%) were the most reported platforms used. Regarding their sleep quality, 34.7% of students were poor sleepers. TikTok use (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01-1.77), hours spent on social media (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.16-1.37) and having moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.19-2.40) were significant independent predictors of poor sleep among the studied sample.

Conclusion

The present study emphasized the association between prolonged use of social media and poor sleep quality among Saudi adolescents. Awareness and behavioral change strategies and activities concerning the drawbacks of poor sleep and proper use of social media are urgently called for to control mental and physical health consequences of poor sleep and social media addiction.

Suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese adolescents: Predictive models using a neural network model

INTRODUCTION

Suicide attempts (SA) are a significant contributor to suicide deaths, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) can increase the risk of SA. Many adolescents experience both NSSI and SA, which are affected by various factors. This study aimed to identify the risk factors and essential warning signs of SA, establish a predictive model for SA using multiple dimensions and large samples, and provide a multidimensional perspective for clinical diagnosis and intervention.

METHODS

A total of 9140 participants aged 12-18 years participated in an online survey; 6959 participants were included in the statistical analysis. A multilayer perceptron algorithm was used to establish a prediction model for adolescent SA (with or without); adolescents with NSSI behavior were extracted as a subgroup to establish a prediction model.

RESULTS

Both the prediction model performance of the SA group and the NSSI-SA subgroup were strong, with high accuracy, and AUC values of 0.93 and 0.88, indicating good discrimination. Decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated that the clinical intervention value of the prediction results was high and that the clinical intervention benefits of the NSSI-SA subgroup were greater than those of the SA group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that the predictive model has a high degree of accuracy and discrimination, thereby identifying significant factors associated with adolescent SA. As long as adolescents exhibit NSSI behavior, relative suicide interventions should be implemented to prevent future hazards. This study can provide guidance and more nuanced insights for clinical diagnosis as well as a foundation for clinical treatment.

Nursing student perspectives on improving mental health support services at university in Saudi Arabia - a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

University students' needs for mental health (MH) services are an important aspect of academic success or failure. Nursing students enrolled at Saudi Arabian universities in need of MH care encounter obstacles in accessing this type of care.

AIMS

The present work explores students' views and suggestions about the existing problems surrounding university students' MH and well-being support services.

METHODS

Twenty students enrolled in a Master of Nursing program were recruited as research participants. Individual interviews of students' perceptions of the needs and availability of MH services during their studies provided inductive data. These data were analysed through a constructivist thematic method.

FINDINGS

Three major themes and sub-themes regarding the issues and possibilities of MH services were distinguished from the research data, namely, social implications, access and opportunity, and ways to improve care. Participants emphasised a need for a university-wide approach to reforming MH services to provide students with the required support and alleviate service demand by qualified professionals.

CONCLUSION

The present work underscores the need for provision of good quality MH care for university students and health promotion which strives to reduce stigma related to MH care.

Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its relation with psychological distress and internet gaming disorder among medical college students

Background

The incidence of smartphone addiction has been widely studied, but the research on the relationship between smartphone addiction and psychological distress and internet gaming disorder is limited. This study investigated the characteristics and prevalence of smartphone addiction and its relation with psychological distress and internet gaming disorder. Furthermore, it provides the scientific basis for intervention measures in schools, families, and society.

Methods

A random cluster sampling method was applied to investigate 656 medical students from grades 1 to 4 at Wannan Medical College in Anhui province, People's Republic of China. The questionnaire consisted of general information, a smartphone addiction scale, an Internet gaming disorder scale, and a Kessler 6-item psychological distress test. The obtained results were first summarized using descriptive statistics. The Chi-square test was used to compare the status of smartphone addiction. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between smartphone addiction and various variables.

Results

Our results showed that the prevalence of smartphone addiction in medical students was 49.5% (325/656). Psychological distress (p < 0.001), internet gaming disorder (p < 0.001), and childhood trauma (p = 0.001) were highly correlated with smartphone addiction in medical students. Psychological distress, and internet gaming disorder were positively associated with smartphone addiction (p < 0.000).

Conclusion

The prevalence of smartphone addiction is high among medical students in Chinese. Smartphone addiction is highly related to related to internet gaming disorder and psychological distress.

Associations of problematic smartphone use with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in university students before and after the COVID-19 outbreak: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been suggested to present with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation (SI) as well as sleep disturbance, lack of social support, and emotional isolation. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between PSU with depressive symptoms and SI in university students, and to determine the potential influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

METHODS

Observational studies pertinent to our research were identified through comprehensive searches of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. To account for potential heterogeneity, the random-effects models were employed to aggregate the findings.

RESULTS

Eighteen datasets from 17 case-control studies, including 24,019 university students, were included. Among them, 8,775 (36.5 %) had PSU. A higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 2.40, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 2.19 to 2.63, p < 0.001; prediction interval: 1.95 to 2.96) was observed in university students with higher scores for PSU measures. A subgroup analysis showed a stronger association between PSU and depressive symptoms after the COVID-19 outbreak as compared to that before the outbreak (OR: 2.76 versus 2.16, p for subgroup difference = 0.002), which explained the heterogeneity. The association between PSU and depressive symptoms in university students was similar to those reported in studies from China and other countries, and in studies with different quality scores. Finally, a meta-analysis of three studies suggested that PSU was also associated with the prevalence of SI (OR: 2.18, 95 % CI: 1.77 to 2.68, p < 0.001; I2 = 0 %).

CONCLUSION

In university students, PSU may be a risk factor for depressive symptoms and SI, and the association between PSU and depressive symptoms became stronger after the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Relationship between Reasons for Smartphone Use, Addictive Use Tendencies, Fear of Missing Out, Depression, and Life Satisfaction: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

INTRODUCTION

In the present cross-sectional study, we investigated whether reasons for smartphone use are similar to those of social media use. Also, we explored links between reasons of smartphone use and mental health variables (problematic smartphone use, FOMO, depression symptoms, and life satisfaction) in Germany during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

METHODS

Overall, 571 smartphone users (Mage = 31.60, SDage = 12.73) provided their reasons for smartphone use. The reasons were assigned to six categories by an inductive qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Five of six reasons were similar to those of social media described by previous research. "Search for social interaction" goes along with less problematic smartphone use and depression symptoms and more life satisfaction. "Search for positive feelings" is associated with lower life satisfaction. More depressed people, those with problematic smartphone use tendencies, higher FOMO, and lower life satisfaction tend to "escape from negative emotions."

DISCUSSION

Our results help to understand the relationships between reasons for smartphone use and mental health variables.

Association between smartphone overdependence and mental health in South Korean adolescents: a secondary data analysis

PURPOSE

The rising prevalence of smartphone overdependence among adolescents and its detrimental impact on mental health have become a growing concern. This study aimed to investigate the association between smartphone overdependence and the mental health of Korean adolescents.

METHODS

Participants were drawn from the 16th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey conducted in 2020. The dependent variable as smartphone overdependence, while the main exposure of interest was mental health, encompassing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), perceived stress, sources of perceived stress, perceived loneliness, and perceived depressive symptoms. The study employed the Rao-Scott chi-square test and multiple logistic regression using IBM SPSS version 26.0.

RESULTS

The participants comprised 54,948 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. Among them, 25.1% (n=13,775) were categorized as smartphone overdependence group. Specifically, 20.3% of adolescents who reported GAD ≥10 and 22.5% of those who reported experiencing high levels of perceived loneliness were identified as smartphone overdependent. The GAD increased a risk of smartphone overdependence by 2.61 times (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.46-2.77). Perceived loneliness was associated with 1.98-fold (95% CI: 1.87-2.09) increased risk of smartphone overdependence. Additionally, conflict with peers was found to increase the risk of smartphone overdependence by 4.63-fold (95% CI: 3.89-5.52), followed by conflict with parents (odds ratio [OR]: 4.52, 95% CI: 3.84-5.31), and family environment (OR: 4.52, 95% CI: 3.75-5.46).

CONCLUSION

The findings underscore a significant association between smartphone overdependence and mental health in Korean adolescents. Healthcare services to improve their emotional coping and interpersonal skills are necessary.

Validation of a modified problematic use of mobile phones scale to examine problematic smartphone use and dependence

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.

Depression and stress are associated with latent profiles of problematic social media use among college students

Background

The previous literature has demonstrated that depression, anxiety, and stress are significant predictors of problematic social media use. However, the manifestation of problematic social media use varies, and the predictive relationship between depression, anxiety, and stress with different subgroups of problematic social media use remains unclear. The aim of this research was to evaluate latent subgroups of problematic social media use among college students and to investigate the impact of depression, anxiety, and stress on these latent subgroups.

Methods

A survey was carried out among college students in China using a cross-sectional approach. A total of 955 participants were included, with a mean age of 19.50 ± 1.22 years. Participants completed questionnaires containing the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The study employed latent profile analysis (LPA) to investigate latent subgroups of Chinese college students with problematic social media use, and a robust three-step approach was used to develop predictive regression mixed models of depression, anxiety, and stress on latent subgroups.

Results

Problematic social media use of Chinese college students can be categorized into four latent subgroups, namely, the high-risk group, the moderate-risk with pleasure group, the moderate-risk with compulsion group, and the low-risk group. The regression model showed that there was a significant difference between the high-risk group and the low-risk group on the stress scale. There was a significant difference between the moderate-risk with pleasure group and the moderate-risk with compulsion group on the depression scale.

Conclusion

Problematic social media use is heterogeneous, with depression and stress being potentially key factors influencing problematic social media use. Depression would make college students more likely to be moderate-risk with compulsion problematic social media users than moderate-risk with pleasure problematic social media users, and stress would make college students more likely to be high-risk problematic social media users than low-risk problematic social media users.

Feasibility, Perceived Impact, and Acceptability of a Socially Assistive Robot to Support Emotion Regulation With Highly Anxious University Students: Mixed Methods Open Trial

BACKGROUND

Mental health difficulties among university students have been rising rapidly over the last decade, and the demand for university mental health services commonly far exceeds available resources. Digital interventions are seen as one potential solution to these challenges. However, as in other mental health contexts, digital programs often face low engagement and uptake, and the field lacks usable, engaging, evidence-supported mental health interventions that may be used flexibly when students need them most.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a new, in situ intervention tool (Purrble) among university students experiencing anxiety. As an intervention, Purrble was designed to provide in situ support for emotion regulation (ER)-a well-known transdiagnostic construct-directly in the moments when individuals are facing emotionally challenging situations. A secondary aim is to consider the perceived impact of Purrble on youth mental health, as reported by students over a 7-week deployment.

METHODS

A mixed methods open trial was conducted with 78 under- and postgraduate students at Oxford University. Participants were recruited based on moderate to high levels of anxiety measured by Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 at baseline (mean 16.09, SD 3.03). All participants had access to Purrble for 7 weeks during the spring term with data on their perceived anxiety, emotion dysregulation, ER self-efficacy, and engagement with the intervention collected at baseline (pre), week 4 (mid), and week 8 (postintervention). Qualitative responses were also collected at the mid- and postintervention points.

RESULTS

The findings demonstrated a sustained engagement with Purrble over the 7-week period, with the acceptability further supported by the qualitative data indicating that students accepted Purrble and that Purrble was well-integrated into their daily routines. Exploratory quantitative data analysis indicated that Purrble was associated with reductions in student anxiety (dz=0.96, 95% CI 0.62-1.29) and emotion dysregulation (dz=0.69, 95% CI 0.38-0.99), and with an increase in ER self-efficacy (dz=-0.56, 95% CI -0.86 to -0.26).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first trial of a simple physical intervention that aims to provide ongoing ER support to university students. Both quantitative and qualitative data suggest that Purrble is an acceptable and feasible intervention among students, the engagement with which can be sustained at a stable level across a 7-week period while retaining a perceived benefit for those who use it (n=32, 61% of our sample). The consistency of use is particularly promising given that there was no clinician engagement or further support provided beyond Purrble being delivered to the students. These results show promise for an innovative intervention model, which could be complementary to the existing interventions.

Emotion dysregulation factors associated with problematic smartphone use severity: The mediating role of fear of missing out

Based on current theoretical frameworks, there has been increasing research examining psychopathology leading to problematic smartphone use (PSU). However, less is known about the affective and cognitive processes linked to PSU. The present study aimed at analyzing the fear of missing out (FoMO) as a mediator in the association between emotion dysregulation and PSU severity. Participants were 343 U.S. undergraduate students (64.7  % female, Mage = 19.3, SD = 2.51) who completed online measures of emotion dysregulation, FoMO and PSU. A fully latent structural equation model was analyzed. Results indicate greater impulse control dysregulation was associated with heightened PSU via increased FoMO. Our findings present evidence suggesting emotion dysregulation and FoMO as affective and cognitive mechanisms associated with PSU, with FoMO serving a mediating role between impulse control and PSU severity. Clinical implications are discussed.

Nomophobia among university students in five Arab countries in the Middle East: prevalence and risk factors

BACKGROUND

Excessive use of mobile phones leading to development of symptoms suggestive of dependence syndrome with teenagers are far more likely to become dependent on mobile phones as compared to adults. COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of several groups in society, especially university students. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of mobile phone dependence among university students and its associated factors.

METHODS

Between September 2021 and January 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted at universities in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia utilizing an online and paper-based self-administered questionnaire. We employed a previously developed questionnaire by Aggarwal et al. RESULTS: A total of 5,720 university students were involved in this study (Egypt = 2813, Saudi Arabia = 1509, Jordan = 766, Lebanon = 432, and Bahrain = 200). The mean estimated daily time spent on using mobile phone was 186.4 (94.4) minutes. The highest mobile dependence score was observed for the university students from Egypt and the lowest mobile dependence score was observed for the university students from Lebanon. The most common dependence criteria across the study sample was impaired control (55.6%) and the least common one was harmful use (25.1%). Females and those reported having anxiety problem or using a treatment for anxiety were at higher risk of developing mobile phone dependence by 15% and 75%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Mobile phone dependence is common among university students in Arab countries in the Middle East region. Future studies exploring useful interventions to decrease mobile phone dependence are warranted.

The association between smartphone use and sleep quality, psychological distress, and loneliness among health care students and workers in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

The use of smartphones among the general public and health care practitioners, in particular, is ubiquitous. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between smartphone addiction and sleep quality, psychological distress, and loneliness among health care students and workers in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire to collect data on smartphone addiction, sleep quality, psychological distress, and loneliness as well as demographic information.

RESULTS

A total of 773 health care students and workers participated in the study, with an average age of 25.95 ± 8.35, and 59.6% female participants. The study found a positive significant association between smartphone addiction and psychological distress (F(1,771) = 140.8, P < 0.001) and emotional loneliness (F(1,771) = 26.70, P < 0.001). Additionally, a significant negative association between smartphone addiction and sleep quality was found (F(1,771) = 4.208, P = 0.041). However, there was no significant relationship between smartphone addiction and social loneliness (F (1,771) = 0.544, P < 0.461).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that smartphone addiction has a negative impact on psychological distress, sleep quality, and emotional loneliness among health care students and workers. It is important to promote strategies to reduce smartphone dependency in order to avoid the harmful consequences of smartphone addiction.

Turkish adaptation of the Smartphone Distraction Scale (SDS)

The aim of this study is to adapt the Smartphone Distraction Scale to Turkish and to examine its psychometric properties. The participants of the study consisted of a community sample of 399 people, 288 (72.2%) women and 111 (27.8%) men, aged between 18-60 (27.14±10.89). In data collection, Sociodemographic Form (SF), Smartphone Distraction Scale-Turkish Version (SDS), Bergen Social Media Scale (BSMS), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Current Symptoms Scale (CSS), and Perceived Multitasking Scale (PMS) were used. The data were analyzed through Cronbach alpha internal consistency coefficient, Pearson product-moment correlation test, item-total score correlation coefficients, confirmatory factor analysis to estimate the construct validity of the scale. Considering the internal consistency reliability of the scale, the Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was found to be .88 for attention/impulsivity, .80 for alertness, .76 for multitasking, and .76 for emotion regulation. The item and total score correlation coefficients of the scale items were found to be between 0.49 and 0.76. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 16-item and four-factor structure of the scale. The correlation of SDS with BSMAS, ERQ, CSS, and PMS was found to be statistically significant. The results of the research show that the SDS adapted to Turkish culture is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used in academic studies and clinical settings.

The Relationship between Emotion Regulation (ER) and Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

Emotion Dysregulation (ED) and Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) are two rising global issues requiring further understanding on how they are linked. This paper aims to summarize the evidence pertaining to this relationship. Five databases were systematically searched for published literature from inception until 29 March 2021 using appropriate search strategies. Each study was screened for eligibility based on the set criteria, assessed for its quality and its level of evidence was determined. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software program (CMA) was employed to run further analyses of the data. Twenty-one studies were included in the systematic review. Nine studies with extractable data for meta-analysis had high across-studies heterogeneity, hence subgroup analyses were performed that confirmed a significant moderate positive correlation between ED and PSU (pooled correlation coefficient, r = 0.416 (four studies, n = 1462) and r = 0.42 (three studies, n = 899), respectively) and a weak positive correlation between "expressive suppression" and PSU (pooled correlation coefficient, r = 0.14 (two studies, n = 608)). Meta-regression analysis showed a stronger correlation between ED and PSU (R2 = 1.0, p = 0.0006) in the younger age group. Further studies to establish and explore the mechanisms that contribute towards the positive link between ED and PSU are required to guide in the planning of targeted interventions in addressing both issues.

The protective role of secure attachment in the relationship between experiences of childhood abuse, emotion dysregulation and coping, and behavioral and mental health problems among emerging adult Black women: A moderated mediation analysis

To determine the extent to which secure attachment moderates the effects of previous child abuse history on the intermediate variables (putative mediators) of emotion dysregulation and coping, which, in turn, influence adult behavioral health and mental health problems. Black women (N = 440, M age = 20.33, SD = 1.88) were selected from the baseline data collection of a large, randomized trial. Study participants had consumed alcohol, had had unprotected sex in the last 90 days, and either reported abuse prior to age 18 or no lifetime history of abuse. Women completed measures of sociodemographics, abuse history, attachment security, coping, emotion dysregulation, psychological functioning, risky sexual behavior, and substance use problems. At low attachment security, the conditional indirect effects of childhood abuse through the intermediate variable, coping, were statistically significant for all dependent variables except proportion condom use and perceived stress. At high attachment security, none of the conditional indirect effects through coping achieved statistical significance. High attachment security also mitigated the conditional indirect effects of childhood abuse through the intermediate variable, emotion dysregulation, reducing the magnitude of the relationship with trait anger, depression, marijuana problems, and perceived stress by about 50%. These results demonstrate the potential mitigating effects of secure attachment on the relationship between childhood abuse history and select behavioral and mental health problems through the intermediate variables of coping and emotional dysregulation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

A Study of Occupational Therapy Strategies and Psychological Regulation of Students' Internet Addiction in the Mobile Social Media Environment

This paper provides an in-depth research analysis of occupational therapy strategies and psychological regulation of students' Internet addiction in the existing mobile social media environment. Based on the definition of Internet use peer pressure, a preliminary scale with 2 dimensions of specific behavioral pressure and psychological cognitive pressure was developed. First, a professor of mental health education and a master's degree student in mental health education were invited to rate the scale, while 47 junior high school students were selected to try the scale to ensure that the questions of the scale were clearly expressed. Secondly, 461 subjects were selected to take the initial test of the scale, and item tests and exploratory factor analysis were conducted to ensure that the structure of the scale was as expected and the scale was expressed to psychometric standards. Finally, 810 subjects were selected for the scale retest, and item analysis and validated factor analysis were conducted, and their results met the psychometric criteria. Student peer attachment significantly and positively predicted adolescent Internet addiction; Internet use peer pressure played an incomplete mediating role in the prediction of peer attachment to Internet addiction; loneliness played a moderating role in the pathway of peer attachment to Internet addiction, and loneliness also played a moderating role in the pathway of peer attachment to Internet use peer pressure. The attitude towards online games is entertainment to kill time, a tool to escape the pressure of study and to gain the fun of friends comparing with each other. The main online motivations of adolescents included individual and situational factors, and behaviors were characterized by pan-entertainment and gamification, mainly through mobile social networks to obtain external information and knowledge, maintain interpersonal relationships, and gain a sense of belonging; they were characterized by a fixation on time, space, and online content. The interaction of family members is more of a behavioral habit, and the communication habits and behavior patterns established in the family will influence the construction of children's relationships with others, while parents' head-down behavior will also influence children's attention to various needs of an Internet-dependent behavior problem, which in turn affects children's problem-solving and intimate relationships with family members.

The Relationship between Cellphone Usage on the Physical and Mental Wellbeing of University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

(1) Background: The study aims to examine the use of cell phones on physical and mental health status and their impact on personality among university students. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. The association of physical and mental health variables with the demographic variables was examined using Pearson’s correlation and χ2-test. The binary logistic regression model was further used to predict the probabilities of negative impact on personality due to excessive use of cell phones. (3) Results: A total of 400 participants participated with a mean age of 24.45 ± 3.45 years. The average eye strain was more in High cell phone users HCPU than in LCPU and that difference was significant p = 0.000. The average neck pain was more in (HCPU) than Low cell phone users (LCPU) and there was a significant difference between the two groups with p = 0.006. The average weight gain was more in HCPU than LCPU and that difference was significant p = 0.000. Considering back pain, back pain was found more in HCPU as compared to LCPU with a statistical difference at p = 0.027. Cell phone usage significantly correlated with eye strain (r = 0.577, p = 0.000), neck pain (r = 0.543, p = 0.000), back pain (r = 0.611, p = 0.000), weight gain (r = 0.423, p = 0.000), depression (r = 0.430, p = 0.000), loneliness (r = −0.276, p = 0.002), and mood disorder (r = 0.608, p = 0.000). Eye strain, neck pain, and back pain was observed more in HCPU than in LCPU. HCPU felt they gained more weight when compared to the respondents in the LCPU group. HCPU felt more changes in mood and feeling low when compared to the LCPU, while LCPU group felt more lonelier when compared to the HCPU group. (4) Conclusions: The study highlights a significant association between excess use of cell phones and negative effects on physical and mental health wellbeing. Based on the results, it is recommended that more physical activities and alternative to minimize cell phone usage should be planned for the students. Public health policy makers and stakeholder need to address the ill effects of excessive use of cell phones through novel policies., especially young students, and alternatives to reduce their cell phone activities.

Examining the relationship between fear of COVID-19, intolerance for uncertainty, and cyberloafing: A mediational model

After the COVID-19 pandemic began, organizations had to pivot and move to online remote work. As companies moved to digital platforms and technologies for remote working, a key concern was the increase in workplace withdrawal behaviors during the pandemic, including cyberloafing, a form of workplace deviance. Cyberloafing can be described as the action of using the internet for non-work-related activities or personal use during working hours. Given its effect on organizational effectiveness and efficiency, organizations must take measures to minimize cyberloafing. We examined how two factors-fear of COVID-19 and intolerance for uncertainty-were related to cyberloafing during the third lockdown in Israel. A sample of 322 adults who were enrolled in professional courses at a university in Israel were surveyed. Based on Conservation of Resources Theory, our findings suggest that distress significantly mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19, intolerance for uncertainty, and cyberloafing. In an attempt to deal with the stress and depletion of personal resources during the COVID-19 lockdown, individuals engaged in cyberloafing as a way to handle the stress. Our results suggest that organizations should take measures to reduce fear and uncertainty in order to decrease distress, which, in turn, will reduce cyberloafing.

Altered resting-state functional connectivity of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex with intrinsic brain networks in male problematic smartphone users

The excessive use of smartphones is associated with various medical complications and mental health problems. However, existing research findings on neurobiological mechanisms behind problematic smartphone use are limited. In this study, we investigated functional connectivity in problematic smartphone users, focusing on the default mode network (DMN) and attentional networks. We hypothesized that problematic smartphone users would have alterations in functional connectivity between the DMN and attentional networks and that such alterations would correlate with the severity of problematic smartphone use. This study included 30 problematic smartphone users and 35 non-problematic smartphone users. We carried out group independent component analysis (group ICA) to decompose resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data into distinct networks. We examined functional connectivity using seed-to-seed analysis and identified the nodes of networks in group ICA, which we used as region of interest. We identified greater functional connectivity of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) with the ventral attention network (VAN) and with the DMN in problematic smartphone users. In seed-to-seed analysis, problematic smartphone users showed atypical dACC-VAN functional connectivity which correlated with the smartphone addiction proneness scale total scores. Our resting-state fMRI study found greater functional connectivity between the dACC and attentional networks in problematic smartphone users. Our findings suggest that increased bottom-up and interoceptive attentional processing might play an important role in problematic smartphone use.

A network analysis on self-harming and problematic smartphone use - The role of self-control, internalizing and externalizing problems in a sample of self-harming adolescents

BACKGROUND

Research has shown an increased risk for Non-suicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behavior as well as Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) and particularly in adolescence, a developmental period defined by multi-level changes and still poor self-control capacities associating with risk-taking behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

The current study was aimed to assess the pattern of mutual relations characterizing NSSI considering self-control, internalizing and externalizing problems, and investigating how PSU fits within the network since NSSI and PSU are here conceptualized as attempts at emotion regulation. Age and gender differences were also assessed.

METHOD

Participants were Italian adolescents presenting NSSI behavior (N = 155; Mage = 14.68; SD = 1.647; Range = 11-18; 43.2%-females); the sample is based on community recruitment. A Network Analysis was performed to assess the organizational structure of NSSI; age and gender differences were assessed through multivariate rank tests further applying multiplicity control.

RESULTS

The emerged Network showed the centrality of low self-control and internalizing problems for NSSI. NSSI and PSU were associated through low self-control, and so were PSU and externalizing problems. Significant age differences were observed showing a decrease in NSSI as age increases (stat = -2.86; adj.p = .029). No gender differences have emerged.

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings provide support for the consideration and investigation of PSU as regards NSSI behavior in adolescence. Moreover, these findings point to the relevance of prevention practices during this peculiar developmental period, particularly sustaining self-control capacities and the use of more adaptive emotion regulation strategies, thereby limiting the accrue of at-risk behaviors.

Mobile phone addiction is associated with impaired cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression of negative emotion

Previous studies have demonstrated people characterized by mobile phone addiction (MPA) are more prone to emotion regulation difficulties. However, no study has tested the effectiveness of their emotion regulation strategies in experimental conditions. In the present study, by instructing the MPA and control groups to regulate negative emotion through cognitive reappraisal (CR) or expressive suppression (ES), we compared their emotional states in the emotional visual search task after watching a negative emotion evoked video. A multi-factor mixed design of 2(group: MPA/control)×2(emotion regulation strategy: CR/ES)×3(image type: positive expression/negative expression/neutral expression) was conducted. We found the MPA group recognized the negative expression faster than control group after both emotion regulation strategies, indicating ES and CR were both impaired for MPA. The implications of these results were further discussed.

The Relationship between Psychological Distress during the Second Wave Lockdown of COVID-19 and Emotional Eating in Italian Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Emotional Dysregulation

This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the impact of psychological distress experienced during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional eating and to assess the mediating role of emotional dysregulation in a sample of Italian young adults (20-35). A total of 437 participants provided demographical data and were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Emotional Eating subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Correlational analyses were performed to assess the relationship between continuous variables, while ANOVA was conducted to detect differences between males and females for emotional eating. To assess whether demographic and clinical data predicted emotional eating, hierarchical linear regression was performed. Then, a mediation analysis was conducted to assess whether emotional dysregulation was a mediator between psychological distress and emotional eating. Emotional eating was associated with psychological distress and emotional dysregulation. Moreover, higher levels of emotional eating were found in females than in males. Predictors of emotional eating were sex, psychological distress, and emotional dysregulation. Mediation analyses showed that the indirect effect of psychological distress on emotional eating through emotional dysregulation was significant (b = 0.0069; SE = 0.0024; CI = 0.0024-0.0118), confirming that the relationship between psychological distress and emotional eating was mediated by emotional dysregulation, controlling for sex. The model explained 26.8% (R² = 0.2680) of the variance. These findings may help to plan and develop psychological interventions aimed at addressing emotional eating in young adults by targeting emotional dysregulation.

Excessive Smartphone Use Is Associated With Health Problems in Adolescents and Young Adults

Background and Aims: This present paper will review the existing evidence on the effects of excessive smartphone use on physical and mental health. Results: Comorbidity with depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD and alcohol use disorder. Excessive smartphone use is associated with difficulties in cognitive-emotion regulation, impulsivity, impaired cognitive function, addiction to social networking, shyness and low self-esteem. Medical problems include sleep problems, reduced physical fitness, unhealthy eating habits, pain and migraines, reduced cognitive control and changes in the brain's gray matter volume. In Conclusion: Excessive smartphone use is associated with psychiatric, cognitive, emotional, medical and brain changes that should be considered by health and education professionals.

Problematic Use of Internet-Related Activities and Perceived Weight Stigma in Schoolchildren: A Longitudinal Study Across Different Epidemic Periods of COVID-19 in China

Background: Social distancing and school suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) may have a negative impact on children's behavior and well-being. Problematic smartphone use (PSU), problematic social media use (PSMU) and perceived weight stigma (PWS) are particularly important issues for children, yet we have a poor understanding of how these may have been affected by lockdowns and physical isolation resulting from COVID-19. This research aimed to understand how these psychosocial and behavioral variables may be associated with psychological distress, and how these associations may have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 489 children completed a three-wave longitudinal study from January 2020 to June 2020. The first wave was conducted before the COVID-19 outbreak. The second wave was conducted during the outbreak. The third wave was conducted during post-COVID-19 lockdown. Questionnaires measured psychological distress, PSU, PSMU, and PWS. Results: PSU, PSMU, PWS and psychological distress were all significantly associated with each other. PSU was significantly higher during outbreak. PWS was significantly higher before outbreak. We found an increased association between PSMU and PWS across three waves in all three models. The association between PSU and depression/anxiety decreased across three waves; however, association between PSMU and depression/anxiety increased across three waves. Conclusions: COVID-19 initiated school suspension and associated lockdowns appear to have exacerbated PSU and depression among children. However, PWS was reduced during this period. Children should use smartphones and social media safely and cautiously, and be aware of the potential exposure to weight stigmatization.

Emotion Regulation Difficulties, Personality, and Problematic Smartphone Use

Emotion regulation has been proposed as a mechanism for the development of problematic smartphone use. In addition to examining the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and problematic smartphone use, the current study sought to be the first to examine the relationship between subscales of emotion regulation difficulties and problematic smartphone use. It also sought to determine whether emotion regulation difficulties provide incremental prediction of problematic smartphone use over and above personality. Participants were 692 Australian university students (81% female; age in years M = 25.23, SD = 7.48). They completed a measure of problematic smartphone use, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and a measure of Big Five personality (IPIP 120). Overall emotion regulation difficulties (r = 0.40) and impulse control difficulties (r = 0.42) were moderately associated with problematic smartphone use, as were the Big Five factors of neuroticism (r = 0.43) and conscientiousness (r = -0.38). Although emotion regulation difficulties predicted problematic smartphone use, they did not provide incremental prediction over and above the Big Five. Findings indicate that personality is a robust predictor of problematic smartphone use. Emotion regulation difficulties, such as impulsivity, offer insights into the specific ways that personality is expressed in problematic smartphone use.

Mind over Matter: Testing the Efficacy of an Online Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Distraction from Smartphone Use

Evidence suggests a growing call for the prevention of excessive smartphone and social media use and the ensuing distraction that arises affecting academic achievement and productivity. A ten-day online randomized controlled trial with the use of smartphone apps, engaging participants in mindfulness exercises, self-monitoring and mood tracking, was implemented amongst UK university students (n = 143). Participants were asked to complete online pre- and post-intervention assessments. Results indicated high effect sizes in reduction of smartphone distraction and improvement scores on a number of self-reported secondary psychological outcomes. The intervention was not effective in reducing habitual behaviours, nomophobia, or time spent on social media. Mediation analyses demonstrated that: (i) emotional self-awareness but not mindful attention mediated the relationship between intervention effects and smartphone distraction, and (ii) online vigilance mediated the relationship between smartphone distraction and problematic social media use. The present study provides preliminary evidence of the efficacy of an intervention for decreased smartphone distraction and highlights psychological processes involved in this emergent phenomenon in the smartphone literature. Online interventions may serve as complementary strategies to reduce distraction levels and promote insight into online engagement. More research is required to elucidate the mechanisms of digital distraction and assess its implications in problematic use.

Impact of Problematic Smartphone Use and Instagram Use Intensity on Self-Esteem with University Students from Physical Education

Mobile devices are a revolutionary element that offer many possibilities, although they can also cause problems for users. This is the case with the development of addictive behaviors that can affect personal well-being. The purpose of this paper has been to analyze the influence of smartphone addiction and Instagram use intensity on the self-esteem of Physical Education students. A cross-sectional research design was adopted by applying an online survey to a sample of undergraduate students (n = 385). The results showed that gender and age were factors that influenced the problematic use of the smartphone. In turn, there was a significant positive correlation between smartphone addiction and Instagram use intensity. The influence of smartphone addiction on students' self-esteem was also highlighted. In contrast, Instagram use intensity did not affect self-esteem. Finally, the findings are discussed, and the main implications of the study are established, where physical education students take on a special role in order to avoid the improper use of smartphones and Instagram through sport.