Development and validation of a smartphone addiction scale (SAS)

Neural and computational mechanisms of loss aversion in smartphone addiction

Smartphones have become integral to daily life, and their overuse can lead to various maladaptive behaviors and decision-making patterns. This study investigated the neural and computational mechanisms underlying smartphone addiction, focusing on its impact on loss-aversion decision-making. We combined computational models, such as the Drift Diffusion Model, with a novel analytic approach, intersubject representational similarity analysis (IS-RSA). Behavioral results showed that higher smartphone addiction symptom (SAS) scores were correlated with reduced loss-aversion (lnλ), while the drift rate was positively associated with SAS. Furthermore, the drift rate mediated the relationship between SAS and lnλ. Neuroimaging analyses revealed that SAS was associated with increased gain-related activity in the occipital pole (OP) but decreased activity in the precuneus and middle frontal gyrus. Additionally, reduced activity was observed in the angular gyrus and superior temporal gyrus during loss processing. IS-RSA further identified brain activation patterns in the default mode network, frontoparietal network, visual network, and sensorimotor network, which corresponded to intersubject variations in SAS, particularly during gain processing but not during loss processing. These patterns were also observed when gains and losses were processed simultaneously. Mediation analyses indicated that brain activation strengths in the OP, precuneus, and MFG during gain processing mediated the relationship between SAS and lnλ and drift rate. Similar mediation effects were observed for intersubject variations in SAS and computational process patterns (eg decision threshold, drift rate, and nondecision time) within these networks. These findings provide novel insights into the neural and computational mechanisms of loss aversion in smartphone addiction, with implications for understanding cognitive biases and informing interventions for addictive behaviors.

Longitudinal Digital Phenotyping of Multiple Sclerosis Severity Using Passively Sensed Behaviors and Ecological Momentary Assessments: Real-World Evaluation

BACKGROUND

Longitudinal tracking of multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms in an individual's environment may improve self-monitoring and clinical management for people with MS. Conventional symptom tracking methods rely on self-reports and clinical visits, which can be infrequent, subjective, and burdensome. Digital phenotyping using passively collected sensor data from smartphones and fitness trackers offers a promising alternative for continuous, real-time symptom monitoring with minimal patient burden.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to develop and evaluate a machine learning (ML)-based digital phenotyping approach to monitor the severity of clinically-relevant MS symptoms. We used passive sensing data to predict short-term fluctuations in patient-reported symptoms, including depressive symptoms, global MS symptom burden, severe fatigue, and poor sleep quality. Further, we examined the impact of incorporating behavioral context features and ecological momentary assessments on prediction performance.

METHODS

We conducted a 12- to 24-week longitudinal study involving 104 people with MS, collecting passive sensor and behavioral health data. Smartphone sensors recorded call activity, location, and screen use, while fitness trackers captured heart rate, sleep patterns, and step count. We extracted patient-level behavioral features and categorized them into 2 feature sets: one from the prediction period (called action) and one from the preceding period (called context). Using an ML pipeline based on support vector machines and AdaBoost, we evaluated the predictive performance of sensor-based models, both with and without ecological momentary assessment inputs.

RESULTS

Between November 16, 2019, and January 24, 2021, overall, 104 people with MS (women: n=88, 84.6%; non-Hispanic White: n=97, 93.3%; mean age 44, SD 11.8 years) from a clinic-based cohort completed 12 weeks of data collection, including a subset of 44 participants (women: n=39, 89%; non-Hispanic White: n=42, 95%; mean age 45.7, SD 11.2 years) who completed 24 weeks of data collection. In total, we collected approximately 12,500 days of passive sensor and behavioral health data from the participants. Among the best-performing models with the least sensor data requirement, the ML algorithm predicted depressive symptoms with an accuracy of 80.6% (F1-score=0.76), high global MS symptom burden with an accuracy of 77.3% (F1-score=0.78), severe fatigue with an accuracy of 73.8% (F1-score=0.74), and poor sleep quality with an accuracy of 72.0% (F1-score=0.70). Further, sensor data were largely sufficient for predicting symptom severity, while the prediction of depressive symptoms benefited from minimal active patient input in the form of responses to 2 brief questions on the day before the prediction point.

CONCLUSIONS

Our digital phenotyping approach using passive sensors on smartphones and fitness trackers may help patients with real-world, continuous self-monitoring of common symptoms in their own environment and assist clinicians with better triage of patient needs for timely interventions in MS and potentially other chronic neurological disorders.

Caught in the Web of the Net? Part I: Meta-analyses of Problematic Internet Use and Social Media Use in (Young) People with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This article examined the internet and social media usage among (young) individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Two meta-analyses were conducted to quantify (1) the relation between ASD/autistic traits and problematic internet use (PIU, which included generalized PIU, problematic gaming, excessive smartphone use), and (2) the relation between ASD/autistic traits and social media use. The results of our first meta-analysis-comprising 46 studies and 42,274 participants-revealed that people with ASD or higher levels of autistic traits showed higher levels of PIU, with an average effect size of r = 0.26 (95% CI [0.21, 0.31]). The second meta-analysis-consisting of 15 studies and 7036 participants-indicated that people with ASD or higher levels of autistic traits were less involved on social media platforms as compared to their typically developing counterparts, with the average effect size being r = - 0.28 (95% CI [- 0.38, - 0.18]). The quality of the research on PIU and social media in persons with ASD was critically evaluated and possible directions for future research on this topic are discussed.

Acculturative stress, loneliness, smartphone addiction, L2 emotions, and creativity among international students in China: a structural equation model

Introduction

International students in China often face psychological challenges such as acculturative stress, loneliness, and problematic smartphone use, which may affect their second language (L2) learning emotions and creativity. Although these factors have been studied individually, their interrelationships remain unclear.

Methods

Data were collected from 213 international students studying in China using validated instruments: the Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (ASSIS), UCLA Loneliness Scale, Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV), Foreign Language Enjoyment and Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLE & FLCA), and the Inventory of Creative Activities and Achievements (ICAA). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the hypothesized model and test both direct and indirect relationships among the constructs.

Results

Acculturative stress significantly predicted smartphone addiction directly (β = 0.372, p < .001) and indirectly via loneliness (β = 0.169, p < .005). It also influenced FLCA through a chain mediation of loneliness and smartphone addiction (β = 0.135, p < .005). In terms of creativity, both acculturative stress (β = 0.300, p < .001) and FLE (β = 0.310, p < .001) positively predicted creative activities, which in turn strongly predicted creative achievement (β = 0.700, p < .001). FLCA was also positively related to creative achievement (β = 0.118, p = .016).

Discussion

These findings support the Dual Pathway to Creativity Model and suggest that long-term moods (e.g., acculturative stress) and situational emotions (e.g., FLE and FLCA) may differentially affect creativity, aligning with the Hierarchical Model of Affect, Mood, and Emotion, advancing the understanding of international students' cross-cultural adaptation in the digital age.

Harsh Parenting and Problematic Smartphone Use: The Chain Mediating Effects of Attention to Negative Information and Social Anxiety

Harsh parenting has been shown to be associated with problematic smartphone use among adolescents. However, few studies have explored the relationship between harsh parenting and problematic smartphone use through a dual-system framework that integrates both emotional and cognitive processing. We aim to investigate the serial mediation effects of attention to negative information and social anxiety in the relationship between harsh parenting and problematic smartphone use among adolescents. The study involved 276 adolescents (mean age = 13.93; SD = 0.82; 42.4% boys) from two middle schools in southeastern China. We assessed harsh parenting, attention to negative information, social anxiety and problematic smartphone use over three waves at three-month intervals. The result show that attention to negative information (T2) serve as independent mediator between harsh parenting (T1) and problematic smartphone use (T3). Also, attention to negative information (T2) and social anxiety (T2) serve as chain mediators between harsh parenting (T1) and problematic smartphone use (T3). However, the direct effect of harsh parenting (T1) on social anxiety (T2) was not significant. These findings suggest that attention to negative information and social anxiety serve as key cognitive and emotional mechanisms linking harsh parenting to problematic smartphone use in adolescents.

Psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender of the Chinese version of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) among Chinese college students

BACKGROUND

Smartphone addiction among college students is a common problem of concern, especially in China, and is associated with numerous psychological challenges. Nevertheless, a valid instrument to measure smartphone addiction in Chinese college students remains underdeveloped.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a valid research instrument for assessing smartphone addiction among Chinese college students, this study conducted a cross-cultural investigation by evaluating the psychometric properties of the Chinese Version of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) and its measurement invariance across gender among Chinese college students.

METHODS

The SABAS was translated into Chinese using the forward-backward method and the Chinese version of the SABAS (SABAS-CV) was completed by 644 Chinese college students. A random selection of 80 college students was made from the total sample, and they were assessed twice with a one-month interval. The reliability of the SABAS-CV was analyzed through internal consistency and test-retest reliability, while the validity was assessed via content validity, structural validity, and convergent validity. Additionally, this study tested the measurement invariance of the SABAS-CV across gender.

RESULTS

The SABAS-CV demonstrated strong content validity, high internal consistency (α = 0.828 for sample 1, α = 0.856 for sample 2), and good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.968, 95% CI: 0.952-0.977). Exploratory factor analysis revealed one component with eigenvalue (3.440) greater than 1, explaining 57.336% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis showed good model fit (χ2/df = 2.462, RMSEA = 0.054, SRMR = 0.029, CFI = 0.968, TLI = 0.956). The factor loadings of the 6 items ranged from 0.549 to 0.853, all exceeding 0.50, with the lower bounds of their confidence intervals also above 0.50. The SABAS-CV had a strong correlation with the Chinese version of the Nomophobia Questionnaire (r = 0.715) and the SAS-CSV (r = 0.826). Measurement invariance test across gender demonstrated that the SABAS-CV was measurement invariant for male and female college students.

CONCLUSION

The SABAS-CV serves as a valid instrument for assessing smartphone addiction in Chinese college students, indicating that the SABAS has high applicability in the Chinese cultural context.

Self-compassion as a protective factor against adverse consequences of social media use: A scoping review

Self-compassion has been shown to foster wellbeing and act as a protective factor against the development of psychopathology. Its protective capacity against adverse consequences of social media use, however, is not well understood. Given the increasing use of social media in our daily lives, gaining a nuanced understanding of the relationship between self-compassion and adverse consequences of social media use may be important for building and maintaining healthier online behaviors and spaces. We conducted a systematic scoping review of empirical studies on the relationship between social media use, self-compassion, and wellbeing. We restricted our search to peer-reviewed studies published between January 2010 and October 2024 that were written or translated to English. Thirty studies of 32 independent samples including 11,991 participants were eligible for review. Many of these studies were cross-sectional surveys with majority female participants. Studies generally focused on one of two domains: 1) psychological well-being (e.g., anxiety/depression and resilience); and 2) body image and appearance (e.g., appearance dissatisfaction and comparison). The studies included in this review showed mixed results, with four common themes emerging: 1) There are associations between self-compassion and social media in a variety of populations and contexts; 2) Self-compassion may offer protective benefits in the context of social media use, but the extent and mechanisms remain unclear; 3) Self-compassion-oriented interventions may promote favorable health outcomes, with social-media-based approaches emerging as a promising avenue; and 4) Social media use is measured inconsistently, suggesting a standardized measure, while needed, is lacking. This review revealed a promising role for self-compassion in promoting wellbeing and buffering against the adverse effects of social media usage, while highlighting gaps and limitations of existing research. Future research should prioritize improvement in measurement of social media use and explore individual-level risk and resilience factors in the context of social media exposures and engagement.

Personality Traits that Predispose or Protect in Smartphone Addiction and Their Implications for Intervention: A Narrative Review

Technological advancement has transformed nearly every aspect of modern life. Nonetheless excessive use of smartphone has become a matter of concern. Adolescents and young adults tend to be more attached or addictive to smartphones and their effects are seen either physically or psychologically. However, there are still no established diagnostic criteria for smartphone addiction in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition. The present review aimed at looking into the available evidence of personality factors in connection with smartphone use and thereby exploring the role of personality in interventions for smartphone addiction on the ground of theoretical foundation. Findings revealed that high neuroticism was significantly related to excessive use and even predicted problematic use of smartphones. Though studies revealed that extraversion may cause an individual to be inclined to increased smartphone usage, it would not lead to smartphone addiction. Similarly, openness to experience traits showed a slight negative association and were not significant predictors of smartphone addiction, whereas conscientiousness and high agreeableness appeared to be protective factors against its development. Research on the relationship between smartphone addiction and social-emotional distress is still in its early stages, requiring cautious generalization. Since eliminating smartphone use completely is impractical, possible interventions for smartphone addiction linked with personality are recommended.

Bullying and Cyberbullying Are Associated with Inappropriate Use of the Internet, Cell Phones, and Video Games in Children and Adolescents

The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of bullying and cyberbullying with the level of Internet, cell phone, and video game use in children and adolescents. In total, 677 Spanish students (53.03% girls) aged 10 to 16 years (13.81 ± 1.56) participated. The association between variables and risk of exposure was carried out by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and binary logistic regression (odds ratio = OR), respectively. The effects of both victimization and perpetration in bullying and cyberbullying were analyzed separately to identify differences by role. All analyses were performed separately for boys and girls and adjusted for age, body mass index, mother's education, and average weekly physical activity. The results showed that both victims and perpetrators of bullying and cyberbullying present a significant increase in and risk of abusive and inappropriate use of the Internet, cell phones, and video games. Girls involved in bullying/cyberbullying behaviors reached the highest levels of inappropriate use of the Internet, cell phones, and video games with respect to peers not affected by bullying behaviors. In all cases, girls, both victims and perpetrators of bullying and cyberbullying, multiplied the risk of harmful use of these devices by at least 3 times. It is suggested to implement educational policies to prevent situations, especially cyberbullying, in both victims and perpetrators, prioritizing student safety.

Mapping research on ICT addiction: a comprehensive review of Internet, smartphone, social media, and gaming addictions

Introduction

The use of information and communication technologies such as the Internet, smartphones, social media, and gaming has gained significant popularity in recent years. While the benefits are immense and ICTs have become essential in people's daily lives, the inappropriate use of these technologies has led to addiction, causing negative consequences in family, academic, and work environments.

Methods

This study analyzes existing research related to ICT addiction (Internet, smartphone, social media, and gaming), reviewing relevant contributions. Historical trends, regions, relevance, factors, and instruments were analyzed to map out the existing research on ICT addiction.

Results and discussion

The findings revealed that although the number of relevant studies has grown in recent years, there is still a lack of attention on ICT addiction and its relationship with psychological factors, social factors, physical factors, phenomenological experiences, and treatment/prevention approaches. In this regard, psychology scholars should consider appropriate methods to raise awareness about ICT addiction and emphasize the need for an in-depth understanding of the meaning, context, and practices associated with Internet, smartphone, social media, and gaming addiction.

The role of smartphone addiction and family dynamics in sleep quality among earthquake-affected adolescents

BACKGROUND

Smartphone addiction is increasingly prevalent, particularly among younger individuals, and has been linked to poor sleep quality. This study aims to assess the effects of smartphone addiction, usage time, socio-demographic factors, relationship with parents, parents' smartphone usage duration, and earthquake-related experiences on sleep quality among adolescents in the earthquake-affected Kahta district of Adıyaman, Turkey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 1st and July 31st 2024 with 394 adolescents aged 12 to 18. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included socio-demographic variables, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Smartphone Addiction Scale.

RESULTS

The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 57.9%, while 66.2% of participants had poor sleep quality. Adolescents using smartphones for more than two hours daily had a higher frequency of poor sleep quality (p = 0.024). Parental influence was significant: participants whose mothers used smartphones for more than one hour daily had a 2.03 times higher risk of poor sleep quality (p = 0.022). Adolescents with poor relationships with parents had a significantly higher risk of sleep disturbances (p < 0.001). Additionally, those who experienced intense fear during the earthquake or lost loved ones showed significantly worse sleep quality (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Smartphone addiction and prolonged usage are strongly associated with poor sleep quality among adolescents. Maternal smartphone use, affects adolescent sleep. Moreover, traumatic experiences related to the earthquake, such as fear and loss, significantly worsen sleep quality. These findings highlight the need for interventions addressing both smartphone addiction and family dynamics to improve sleep health in disaster-affected adolescents.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

"Phone in the Room, Mind on the Roam": Investigating the Impact of Mobile Phone Presence on Distraction

In the digital age, mobile phones significantly impact human cognition and behavior. This experimental study examined the effects of passive mobile phone presence on attentional control in young adults aged 18-25. Participants were randomly assigned to a control (no phone) or an experimental group (phone present). Attention control was measured using the Attention Network Test (ANT). In contrast, smartphone nomophobia and addiction were measured with the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) and the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). Contrary to previous literature, the presence of a mobile phone did not significantly distract participants or impair attentional performance. No significant relationship emerged between self-reported levels of distraction or nomophobia and actual attentional performance, although smartphone addiction seemed to have a weak effect on the errors made by those who performed in the presence of their mobile phone. Significant gender differences were found in terms of nomophobia, with women reporting higher levels than men. This study suggests that the relationship between mobile phone presence and attentional processes is more complex than previously hypothesized, bringing the existing literature under further consideration.

The correlation between mindfulness and problematic smartphone use: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

In the modern era of constant digital technological advancements, problematic smartphone use has become a key issue in educational psychology. This phenomenon affects individual psychological well-being and academic or other performance and encompasses interpersonal relationships and societal aspects, divulging the intricate correlation between technology usage and human behavior. This study aims to explore mindfulness as an intervention measure to lessen problematic smartphone use.

METHODS

Based on the PRISMA method, this study used a meta-analytic approach to explore the relationship between mindfulness and problematic smartphone use systematically. Systematic literature searches for papers published before February 2024 yielded 29 studies, including 17,534 individuals and 30 effect sizes. The sample comprised participants from Eastern cultures (n = 22 studies) and Western cultures (n = 8 studies).

RESULTS

The meta-analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between mindfulness and problematic smartphone use (r = -0.399, 95 % CI [-0.457, -0.338], p < 0.001). Moderator analyses revealed the strongest relationship when using the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) (r = -0.498), while the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) showed the weakest (r = -0.245). Cultural background analyses indicated stronger effects in Eastern cultures (r = -0.428) compared to Western cultures (r = -0.316). Gender analyses revealed stronger effects among female participants (β = -0.510, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that mindfulness serves as an effective approach to addressing problematic smartphone use. The significant moderating effects identified have important implications for the implementation of mindfulness-based interventions in educational settings.

A randomised pilot trial for bedtime procrastination: Examining the efficacy and feasibility of the Reducing Evening Screen Time online intervention (REST-O)

Bedtime procrastination is associated with inadequate sleep and is a novel intervention target to improve sleep health. Formative work indicates that pre-sleep electronic device use, a ubiquitous bedtime procrastination behaviour, may be targeted using a behaviour change approach. This pilot study aimed to examine (1) the acceptability and feasibility of the Reducing Evening Screen Time online program (REST-O) in new career starters, and (2) the preliminary effect of the program on daily pre-sleep electronic device use and sleep duration, as well as weekly measures of bedtime procrastination, excessive device use, and sleep quality and duration. Participants (N = 55) were randomised into three arms; an active Control (n = 19), Prevent (n = 18) and Substitute (n = 18), who used behavioural substitution at different times of day. Daily assessments were conducted for two weeks, and weekly measures at baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up (end of Week Three). All groups experienced a reduction in daily pre-sleep device use (M = 23.4 min per day) and an increase in daily sleep duration (M = 12.7 min per day) post-intervention. Continued reductions in bedtime procrastination, excessive device use, and improvements in sleep quality and duration were observed at follow-up. The program appears feasible and acceptable to participants with a high daily completion rate (M = 84.7 %). Reductions in habit strength and hedonic motivation suggest potential mechanisms of change. Findings provide preliminary evidence for behaviour change interventions in targeting pre-sleep electronic device use and bedtime procrastination, with broader implications for sleep health.

Smartphone addiction and musculoskeletal associated disorders in university students: biomechanical measures and questionnaire survey analysis

BACKGROUND

Smartphone addiction significantly impacts the musculoskeletal system, with 79% of younger adults aged 18-44 reporting excessive cell phone use. In addition, rare data exist on the roles of biological markers like 5-HT receptors, oxidative stress markers (TAC, MDA), collagen biomarkers (TIMP-1, TIMP-2), and triglycerides (TG) in the effects of smartphone addiction on the musculoskeletal system, particularly among university students.

OBJECTIVE

Thus, the study aimed to investigate the potential link between smartphone addiction levels and certain biological indicators related to musculoskeletal injuries in the hands and necks of young, healthy university students.

METHODS

A total of 250 healthy university students aged 17-30 years old were randomly invited to participate in this descriptive cross-sectional analytical study. All participants were categorized into two groups based on their smartphone usage duration: non-addicted (1-3h./day; n = 48) and addicted (≥ 5h./day; n = 12). Smartphone addiction, musculoskeletal discomfort in the neck and hands, adiposity-related outcomes, and musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) biomarkers, like matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs); TIMP-1,TIMP-2;5-hydroxytryptophans (5-HT), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed using validated questionnaires like the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Cornell Hand Discomfort Questionnaire (CHDQ), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively, and ELISA immunoassay analysis.

RESULTS

A significant link was reported between smartphone addiction and neck pain, hand discomfort, and adiposity markers in 64%of the participant cohort. Moreover, females exhibited higher rates of addiction and susceptibility compared to their male counterparts (62.5% vs. 37.5%). Overall, the outcomes score of prolonged smartphone usage was positively correlated with adiposity, musculoskeletal disorders, and pain measured by the NDI, CHDQ, and VAS, respectively. Smartphone-addicted students demonstrated lower levels of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TAC activity, along with elevated 5-HT, TG, and MDA levels, compared to non-addicted controls.

CONCLUSION

Smartphone addiction is positively associated with adiposity and musculoskeletal issues, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and hands, among university students. Key biomarkers (TIMP-1, TIMP-2, 5-HT, TG, MDA, TAC) significantly correlate with the severity of neck and hand MSD, as indicated by NDI, CHDQ, and VAS scores. Thus, public health initiatives are essential to raise awareness of the physical and biological risks of excessive smartphone use.

Adaptation and Validation of the Spanish Version of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS)

Smartphone addiction is very prevalent among university students and can negatively impact both their physical and mental health. This study aimed to translate the smartphone application-based addiction scale (SABAS) into Spanish and evaluate its psychometric properties among Spanish university students. A total of 297 university students (222 women and 75 men) participated in this study (M age = 20.88, SD = 4.58) by completing a sociodemographic questionnaire, the smartphone addiction scale-short version, the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21, the fear of missing out scale, and the SABAS. The SABAS was translated into Spanish using the forward-backward method. The factor structure was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis, while reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients. The SABAS showed acceptable reliability (α = 0.72; ω = 0.73), and all of its items were kept. Factor analysis revealed that the Spanish version of the SABAS was unifactorial and demonstrated excellent validity (χ2 = 10.285; p = 0.246; RMSEA = 0.034; CFI = 0.991; SRMR = 0.030). Significant associations were also observed between the SABAS score and the number of hours of smartphone use, fear of missing out, and psychological distress. Despite its brevity, the Spanish version of the SABAS provides good validity and reliability. Therefore, it can be used as a tool for screening smartphone addiction in Spanish university students.

The Impact of Bullying Victimization on Short Video Addiction in Adolescents: The Role of Emotional Distress and Neural Mechanisms

Short-video addiction (SVA) has become a growing concern among adolescents. Bullying victimization (BV) is considered a significant factor contributing to it, yet its relationship with SVA remains underexplored. This study investigated the role of BV in SVA, examining developmental and psychological pathways across middle school students (MSS; n = 1269), college students (CS; n = 1615) and a replicated college sample (RCS; n = 112). Descriptive statistics revealed significant correlations between SVA and BV, including subdimensions such as verbal, physical and relational bullying, as well as negative affect (NA). Mediation analyses showed that NA partially mediated the relationship between BV and SVA across both MSS and CS groups, although mediation effects were absent in addicted subgroups, highlighting differing psychological pathways between addicted and nonaddicted populations. Neuroimaging analyses in the RCS sample identified spontaneous functional brain activity linked to SVA in the inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) and parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), with intersubject representational similarity analyses (IS-RSA) further associating PHG and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) activity patterns with intersubject variations in SVA. These findings underscore bullying victimization as a critical predictor of short video addiction, mediated by NA in nonaddicted groups, and illuminate spontaneous brain activity patterns associated with addiction.

Role of self-regulation in controlling cyber loafing and smartphone addiction: Reducing health risk at the university level

CONTEXT

Mobile phones have evolved into tools providing a virtual environment and frequently used for remote teaching strategies. Besides its unavoidable alternative in different situations, excessive use of the mobile phone has changed behaviors and influences interpersonal relationships and may also have a harmful impact on health and happiness. To overcome these issues, several approaches have been introduced to identify and minimize the smartphone addiction. Literature reveals that self-regulation, smartphone usage, cyberloafing, and general self-efficacy have a prominent role in mobile phone addiction.

AIMS

The aims of the current study were to analyze and optimize the role of considered factors to overcome the excess mobile phone usage and its addiction.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

Using the random sampling technique, an adopted questionnaire was utilized to collect data of 500 university level students. The target population consisted of 5000 university level students.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

A complete and comprehensive model was established using structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that there is a significantly negative effect of self-regulation on both cyberloafing and addiction, while smartphone usage has a positive effect on smartphone addiction. Similarly, self-efficacy positively affected the cyberloafing, resulting in positive effects on the smartphone addiction.

CONCLUSIONS

Awareness, smartly planned lessons, learning materials, recommended applications, and restricted technologies can be effective in controlling the smartphone addiction and their health-related problems. Additional factors such as students' disengagement from tasks, lack of context familiarities, and the boring nature of the task or teaching method may increase the mobile addiction. For this, extra curriculum activities and support programs can significantly reduce the mobile use.

Flourishing through Social Development Activities and Social Support: A Holistic Strategy for Problematic Smartphone Use

While some research has indicated the relationship between participation in social development activities (PSDA) and perceived social support (PSS) with problematic smartphone use (PSU), there has been a lack of studies examining these relationships through the lens of the flourishing theory, particularly among adolescents. To address this gap in the literature, this study conducted between April and May 2022 included 4965 high school students from 20 different cities in Türkiye. Researchers utilized questionnaires assessing participants' demographic information, levels of participation in social development activities, The Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale, The Short Version of the Scales of General Well-Being (GWB), and The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support as instruments. Structural Equation Modeling was employed for analyzing the relationships between variables using IBM SPSS v26 and AMOS v24 software packages. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to understand how GWB and PSS were associated with the relationships between PSDA and PSU. Findings indicated a predominantly negative relationship between PSDA and PSU, with GWB mediating this relationship negatively across all PSDA and PSS playing a contributory role in many indirect relationships between PSDA and PSU, if not directly. The importance of the approach in interventions aimed at addressing PSU was emphasized.

French Versions of 4 English Questionnaires on Problematic Smartphone Use: Cross-Cultural Linguistic Translation and Adaptation Study

BACKGROUND

Excessive use of smartphones is recognized as a major problem in our modern society and can have dramatic consequences on the health of adolescents and young adults. Measuring problematic smartphone use in research and clinical practice is generally operationalized with self-reported questionnaires. In order to comprehensively assess the issue of problematic smartphone usage within the French population, it is imperative to employ validated French-language questionnaires. However, at this point, existing questionnaires are primarily available in English. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, these English questionnaires have yet to undergo validation processes for French-speaking cohorts.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to perform a cross-cultural translation of the Smartphone Addiction Scale, Nomophobia Questionnaire, Problematic Use of Mobile Phones scale, and Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale to French.

METHODS

The translation process was performed using the forward/backward method. The first translation phase involved asking 4 independent French translators to translate the original English version of the questionnaires into French. In the second phase, the French version was backtranslated to English by a native English speaker. In the third phase, 2 concept experts were asked to comment and suggest modifications to the statements if necessary. Finally, the last version of the translated questionnaires was presented to 18 participants to assess the clarity, intelligibility, and acceptability of the translations.

RESULTS

During the forward translation step, the translation differences were minor. During the backward translation, the English native speaker correctly backtranslated 18 of the 33 items of the Smartphone Addiction Scale, 17 of the 20 items of the Problematic Use of Mobile Phones scale, and 13 of the 15 items of the Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale. Backtranslation for the Nomophobia Questionnaire was less satisfactory, with only 10 out of 20 items that were correctly backtranslated. The linguistic verification step revealed a minimal modification for the 4 questionnaires. The participants also suggested few improvements that we have considered for the final version. We produced the final version directly after this step.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully adapted and effectively translated 4 questionnaires that assess problematic smartphone use to French. This step is a prerequisite for the validation of the French questionnaires. These adapted measures can serve as valuable research instruments for investigating and addressing issues related to problematic smartphone use in French-speaking countries and for making international comparisons.

Exploring the relationship between physical activity and smartphone addiction among college students in Western China

Background

Smartphone addiction (SA) refers to a behavioral disorder characterized by an irresistible compulsion to excessively engage with mobile devices. Currently, the evidence regarding the relationship between physical activity (PA), exercise intensity (EI), and SA is limited, particularly within Chinese populations. This study aims to explore the correlation between PA, EI, and SA, specifically investigating how PA and EI impact SA to better understand the nature of this relationship.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving college students from over 20 universities in Western China. Data were collected on participants' engagement in PA, EI, and SA. Additionally, covariates such as age, gender, ethnicity, academic classification, university location, discipline, year of study, hometown region, sibling status, relationship status, and social interactions were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between PA, EI, and SA. Stratified and interaction analyses were performed to examine whether the relationship remained consistent across different subgroups.

Results

Of the 3,506 college students surveyed, 1,905 (54.3%) experienced SA. The prevalence of SA was 11.3% lower in the group that engaged in PA compared to those who did not. In the fully adjusted model, PA was negatively associated with SA (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.59-0.82, p < 0.001). EI was also inversely associated with SA. Moderate- and vigorous-intensity exercise had odds ratios of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.67-0.98, p = 0.034) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.68-1.00, p = 0.046), respectively, compared with low-intensity exercise. Similar patterns were observed in subgroup analyses (all p values for interaction >0.05).

Conclusion

The findings indicate a significant negative association between PA, EI, and SA, highlighting the potential of promoting PA and higher EI as strategies to reduce SA among college students.

Effectiveness of brief online mindfulness-based intervention on different types of mobile phone addiction: mechanisms of influence of trait mindfulness

Introduction

It is common for college students to suffer from mobile phone addiction, which can seriously affect their physical and mental health. The current study looked at the impact of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on mobile phone addiction to address this problem. The mechanisms behind the influence of trait mindfulness (TM) on this process were also investigated in the current study.

Methods

Subjects were split into two groups for a randomized controlled trial: an experimental group and a control group. During brief online MBI, online assessments of mobile social networking addiction (MSNA), mobile game addiction (MGA), mobile information acquisition addiction (MIAA), and mobile short-form video addiction (MSVA) as well as TM were completed. The present study examined the effectiveness of the brief online MBI with a two-factor repeated measures ANOVA and explored the effects of TM on the four types of mobile phone addiction with hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) after a brief online MBI.

Results

Results revealed that the experimental group receiving brief online MBI showed a significant decrease in MSNA, MGA, MIAA, and MSVA at the post-test level compared to the pre-test. TM negatively predicted MSNA, MGA, MIAA, and MSVA.

Discussion

The present study found that the brief online mindfulness-based intervention can effectively reduce four types of mobile phone addiction. In addition, the present study revealed that as the levels of TM increased, all four types of mobile phone addiction decreased.

Neuroanatomical and functional substrates of the short video addiction and its association with brain transcriptomic and cellular architecture

Short video addiction (SVA) has emerged as a growing behavioral and social issue, driven by the widespread use of digital platforms that provide highly engaging, personalized, and brief video content. We investigated the neuroanatomical and functional substrates of SVA symptoms, alongside brain transcriptomic and cellular characteristics, using Inter-Subject Representational Similarity Analysis (IS-RSA) and transcriptomic approaches. Behaviorally, we found that dispositional envy was associated with SVA. Structurally, SVA was positively correlated with increased morphological volumes in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and bilateral cerebellum. Functionally, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), cerebellum, and temporal pole (TP) exhibited heightened spontaneous activity, which was positively correlated with SVA severity. Transcriptomic and cellular analyses also showed specific genes linked to gray matter volume (GMV) associated with SVA, with predominant expression in excitatory and inhibitory neurons. These genes showed distinct spatiotemporal expression patterns in the cerebellum during adolescence. This study offers a comprehensive framework integrating structural, functional, and neurochemical evidence to highlight the neural-transcriptomic underpinnings of SVA symptoms in a non-clinical population.

Examining Self-Regulation and Problematic Smartphone Use in Canadian Adolescents: A Parallel Latent Growth Modeling Approach

Despite extensive research on the prevalence and mental health implications of problematic smartphone use in adolescents, the cognitive mechanisms underpinning its development, such as self-regulation, remain underexplored. This study aims to fill this research gap by investigating the developmental trajectories of self-regulation and problematic smartphone use among Canadian adolescents. Participants (N = 1303; 614 girls; Mage = 14.60 years, SD = 1.16 years) attended one of five public high schools in Southern British Columbia. Adolescents self-reported their self-regulation skills, as well as problematic smartphone use annually for three years. In line with developmental expectations, results indicated that both self-regulation and problematic smartphone use increased across the three years. Parallel latent growth models revealed significant intercept and positive slope differences for self-regulation and problematic smartphone use, showing that higher initial self-regulation predicted lower initial problematic smartphone use, and vice versa. Girls exhibited higher initial levels of problematic smartphone use, but gender differences in developmental trajectories were not observed. These findings emphasize the importance of early self-regulation skills in preventing the escalation of problematic smartphone use in adolescents, providing evidence-based insights for developing targeted interventions.

Changes in delayed sleep patterns and related clinical factors in a social restriction environment

We aimed to investigate which factors, including socioenvironmental factors and emotional regulation, were associated with pronounced delayed sleep patterns during the COVID-19 social restriction. We evaluated 744 adults aged 20-65 y using a web-based survey with a self-reported questionnaire in May 2022. Based on the survey, we estimated the mid-sleep time on free days corrected for oversleeping on free days (MSFsc) and social jet lag (SJL). We determined delayed sleep patterns using ΔMSFsc, which was defined as the difference between MSFsc during the pre- and mid-pandemic. The high-risk group for delayed sleep patterns (H-DSP) group was younger with evening person and had more severe insomnia, depression with rumination, and smartphone addiction (p < 0.05). Logistic regression revealed that stronger tendencies to express emotions and rumination were independent risk factors associated with a pronounced pattern of delayed sleep during the pandemic. In the H-DPS group, SJL increased even more during the pandemic. In socially restricted environments, emotion regulation significantly affects the severity of delayed sleep patterns, and people with H-DSP also had more disrupted circadian rhythms. Therefore, active education of sleep hygiene and emotional support with psychological interventions are needed in socially restricted environments.

Uncovering the Links Between Problematic Smartphone Usage and Subjective Vitality: The Role of Mindful Parenting and Parenting Stress

In recent years, scientific research has increasingly focused on the relationship between parents' mobile phone usage and parenting. As smartphones have become pervasive among parents, concerns have arisen regarding how this usage might influence parenting practices and well-being. Therefore, studies that examine the relationship between parents' technology usage-particularly smartphone usage-and their well-being and parenting practices are of significant value. Such research can provide deeper insights into how technology shapes family dynamics and parental roles over time. Our research aimed to investigate the relationships among problematic smartphone usage, mindful parenting, parenting stress, and subjective vitality. The study involved a cross-lagged panel design with two waves of longitudinal research, and parents with at least one child between the ages of 1 and 14 participated. The results revealed that problematic smartphone use has a negative correlation with mindful parenting and subjective vitality, while it has a positive correlation with parenting stress. Serial mediation analysis showed that mindful parenting and parenting stress, both longitudinally and sequentially, mediate the relationship between problematic smartphone usage and subjective vitality. These findings suggest that problematic smartphone use adversely affects parents' well-being by increasing stress and reducing mindful engagement in parenting. Interventions focusing on reducing problematic smartphone use and enhancing mindful parenting practices may improve parental well-being and reduce stress.

Network analysis of autism traits and problematic mobile phone use and their associations with depression among Chinese college students

The current study employed network analysis to examine the relationship between symptoms from factor level about autism traits and problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) and to explore their associations with depression. We measured the above three variables in 949 college students in China with Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Central and bridge symptoms were pinpointed through the examination of centrality index. In the AQ and PMPU network, results revealed that WD ("Withdrawal"), COR ("Cyberspace-oriented relationship") and OU ("Overuse") emerged as the core symptoms. AS ("Attention switching"), CO ("Communication") and COR ("Cyberspace-oriented relationship") were the most symptoms bridging the AQ and PMPU communities, suggesting that these symptoms could serve as focal points for interventions aimed at college students with concurrent autism traits and PMPU. SK ("Social skills"), COR ("Cyberspace-oriented relationship"), CO ("Communication"), and DLD ("Daily-life disturbance") were most strongly associated with depression. In addition, future research should consider various measurement tools and methods to investigate the location of AD ("Attention to detail"), because AD was an isolated symptom in the flow network of depression.

Predicting online shopping addiction: a decision tree model analysis

Background

Online shopping addiction has been identified as a detrimental behavioral pattern, necessitating the development of effective mitigation strategies.

Objective

This study aims to elucidate the psychological mechanisms underlying online shopping addiction through constructing and analyzing a C5.0 decision tree model, with the ultimate goal of facilitating more efficient intervention methods.

Methodology

A comprehensive survey was conducted among 457 university students in Sichuan, China, utilizing validated psychometric instruments, including the Online shopping addiction Scale, College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, College Students' Sense of Life Meaning Scale, Negative Emotion Scale, Social Anxiety Scale, Sense of Place Scale, and Tuckman Procrastination Scale.

Results

The predictive model demonstrated an accuracy of 79.45%, identifying six key factors predictive of online shopping addiction: academic procrastination (49.0%), sense of place (26.1%), social anxiety (10.1%), college students' sense of life meaning (7.0%), negative emotions (7.0%), and college academic self-efficacy (0.9%).

Conclusion

This pioneering study in online shopping addictiononline shopping addiction prediction offers valuable tools and research support for identifying and understanding this behavioral addiction, potentially informing future intervention strategies and research directions. This study provides research support for improving people's understanding and management of behavioral addictions and promoting healthier online shopping habits.

Psychological Compensation or Drinking Poison to Quench Thirst: The Dual Effects of Smartphone Use Habits on Depression in Chinese Left-Behind Adolescents

With the popularity of smartphones, their impact on the physical and mental health of left-behind adolescents has become the focus of social attention. Some believe that smartphone use will provide emotional compensation for left-behind adolescents, while others believe that the lack of supervision of smartphone use among left-behind adolescents will exacerbate their psychological problems. To explore the mechanisms of the dual effects, we conducted a field survey of 848 left-behind adolescents (male = 446, age between 12 and 19) in Shicheng County in Gannan Region of China. It was found that social smartphone use, recreational smartphone use, frequency, and duration of smartphone use, mediated by smartphone dependence, were positively associated with social anxiety, stress perception, and sleep disorder, and further with depression of left-behind adolescents. Although social uses of smartphones were positively associated with online social support, they were not related to loneliness and depression. Based on our results, left-behind adolescents' smartphone use habits have shown more harmful than good effects on their psychological well-being.

Psychometric evaluation of smartphone addiction scale - short version (SAS-SV) among young adults of India

Background

Although smartphones have considerable utility, they also have addiction potential. The early detection of problematic smartphone use (PSU) can have significant implications for managing its psychosocial consequences. Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV), initially developed for South Korean adolescents, has emerged as a reliable measure for adults across countries. However, SAS-SV continues to be used unvalidated in India.

Aim

To evaluate the psychometric properties of SAS-SV for the Indian adult population.

Materials and Methods

Content validation of SAS-SV was done by 10 experts, followed by data collection for validation using a cross-sectional design from 434 participants (M age = 25.4; SD age = 2.6; 58.8% females). The datasheet consisted of a sociodemographic questionnaire and SAS-SV. Statistical analyses comprised confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), reliability analyses, percentiles, and evaluation of sociodemographic variables.

Results

SAS-SV's content validity index was 0.93, and item wordings were adjusted after experts' feedback. CFA did not show good fit indices; hence, EFA was used, which explained 44% of the variance from a unifactorial model. Cronbach's alpha was 0.85, McDonald's Omega was 0.86, and test-retest reliability was 0.81. There were no significant PSU differences in gender, marital status, and occupational status. Higher PSU was associated with lower age, lower education, nuclear family, and more hours of smartphone usage.

Conclusion

The current study established the psychometric properties of SAS-SV for the Indian adult population. SAS-SV can be used for assessment and treatment monitoring of PSU.

Exploring smartphone utilization patterns, addiction, and associated factors in school-going adolescents: A mixed-method study

Background

Smartphone use and addiction among adolescents is an emerging public health concern. This study aimed to assess smartphone use, addiction, patterns of use, and associated factors among adolescents.

Methods

An institutional-based mixed-method study was conducted among 560 adolescents aged 15-19 years. Data were collected on smartphone use, and addiction assessed by a Short Version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV), patterns of use, and correlations with demographic factors, physical health, and psychological symptoms. Statistical analysis included percentages, logistic regression, and tests of significance. A P value of < 0.05 is considered significant.

Results

Smartphone use prevalence was 89.8% [95% CI (87.09%-92.49%)], and addiction prevalence was 64% [95% CI (62.66%-72.34%)] among users. Factors associated with smartphone use are statistically significant based on adjusted odds ratios (AOR), which were urban residence [2.5 (1.8-3.8)], use of handsfree kit [2.04 (1.56-2.95)], illiterate father's education [2.7 (1.9-7.8)], illiterate [2.38 (1.98-5.7)], primary/secondary educated [2.15 (1.06-4.3)] mother's education, and addiction [3.2 (1.7-4.3)]. Addicted users showed higher use for gaming, videos, and social media (P < 0.05). No significant physical or psychological health differences were found between addicted and non-addicted groups.

Conclusions

Smartphone addiction (SA) was highly prevalent among adolescents. Use patterns, such as gaming and social media, as well as perceptions of harm, were implicated in addiction risk. Tailored interventions are required to address this emerging public health problem among adolescents.

The Associations Between Social Support and Problematic Mobile Phone Use Among Children and Adolescents: A Three-level Meta-analysis

Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between social support and problematic mobile phone use among adolescents, yet a definitive consensus remains elusive. The high prevalence of problematic mobile phone use among children and adolescents requires urgent clarity on this issue. However, previous meta-analyses on this topic have primarily focused on college students, overlooking this association in younger age groups. The present study thus concentrated on children and adolescents, conducting a three-level meta-analysis to combine existing research findings and analyze various moderators to identify sources of research heterogeneity. A systematic literature search retrieved a total of 33 studies with 135 effect sizes for this meta-analysis, and 25,537 students (53.83% female, age range 7-19, grades range 3rd-12th) were included. The results showed a negative correlation (r = -0.139) between social support and problematic mobile phone use in children and adolescents. Age, social support measurement, sources of social support, and symptoms of problematic mobile phone use were found to have a significant moderating influence. Specifically, social support showed a stronger negative correlation with problematic mobile phone use in older adolescents compared to their younger counterparts. The correlation was more pronounced when using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support than other scales. Family support exhibited a stronger negative correlation with problematic mobile phone use compared to other sources of support. Among the symptoms of problematic mobile phone use, the inability to control craving has the strongest negative correlation with social support. This meta-analysis suggested that providing more social support, particularly in the form of family support, during the development of children and adolescents may help alleviate problematic mobile phone use.

Similarities and differences in core symptoms of problematic smartphone use among Chinese students enrolled in grades 4 to 9: A large national cross-sectional study

Children and adolescents are highly susceptible to problematic smartphone usage. We employed network analysis to explore the similarities and differences in the core symptoms of problematic smartphone use across grades 4-9, using a large nationwide sample. This study included 8552 children and adolescents (Mage = 12.98, SD=1.51) who met the critical value for problematic smartphone use. The results showed that the core symptoms of problematic smartphone use exhibit both similarities and differences between grades 4 and 9. 'Withdrawal symptoms' and 'preoccupation symptoms' were the stable core symptoms of problematic smartphone use across grades 4 to 9, suggesting that problematic smartphone use begin to appear from earlier grades, such as grade 4. 'Feel impatient and fretful', 'never give up' and 'always thinking about' were the core symptoms in grades 4 and 5. 'Longer than I had intended' and 'hard to concentrate' emerged as additional core symptoms in grade 6, with the intensity indicators peaking in grades 8 and 9, suggesting that the issue of problematic smartphone use among Chinese children and adolescents has become intensified and intricate. Symptoms of problematic smartphone use vary across grades and exhibit both continuity and stage specificity. Consequently, to address this issue, the formulation of intervention measures should comprehensively consider both the grade levels and symptoms.

The morphology of a smartphonopathic hand - smartphone use and the median nerve cross-sectional area

Objective

To investigate and compare the median nerve-cross sectional area at the wrist region of the dominant and non-dominant hands of high- and low- smartphone users.

Method

This descriptive cross-sectional study was based on 128 human subjects conducted at Bahria University Health Sciences Karachi Campus from January to June 2022. The sample size was calculated using the method of sample size for frequency in a population www.openepi.com which is an open-source calculator, version 3-SSPropor using the following equation: Sample size n = [DEFF*Np(1-p)]/[(d2/Z21-α/2*(N-1)+p*(1-P)]. The subjects were from MBBS, BDS, DPT, and Dental House Officers. They were grouped into two categories: high-smartphone users and low-smartphone users, based on the smartphone addiction scale (SAS). Ultrasound was carried out on each subject's wrist regions at the carpal tunnel level. The readings were compared between the dominant and non-dominant hands of each individual.

Results

In this descriptive cross-sectional study on 128 subjects, the difference between the median nerve cross-sectional areas (MN-CSAs) of the dominant and non-dominant hand of the high-smartphone group was highly significant (p=0.007). The difference between the MN-CSAs of the dominant and non-dominant hand of the low-smartphone group was significant too (p=0.0103).

Conclusion

Smartphone overuse resulted in an enlarged median nerve, especially in the dominant hand.

Does smartphone addiction impact happiness? exploring the mediating roles of belongingness and fear of missing out: a cross-sectional survey from Turkey

The aim of the study is to determine whether the fear of missing out (FoMO) has a mediating role in the effect of general belongingness (acceptance, exclusion) and happiness on smartphone addiction. The study consists of 656 university students from Turkey and agreeing to participate in the study. Of the students participating in the study, 77.7% were female. The participants were between the ages of 17 and 34, with a mean age of 21.32 ± 2.08 years. In this cross-sectional research design, the relationship between smartphone addiction, fear of missing out, general belonging and happiness variables was examined. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze the data and partial least squares path analysis (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the research model. FoMO has a mediating effect on the effect of acceptance, exclusion, happiness on smartphone addiction. These findings highlight the significant role of FoMO in mediating the relationship between fundamental social needs (belongingness, happiness) and smartphone addiction. This suggests that interventions aimed at reducing smartphone addiction should consider addressing not only the technological dependence but also the underlying social and emotional needs that drive it. Promoting healthy social connections and fostering a sense of belonging among young adults may be crucial in mitigating the risk of smartphone addiction.

The Development and Validation of the Adolescent Problematic Gaming Scale (PGS-Adolescent)

This study aims to develop and validate the Adolescent Problematic Gaming Scale (PGS-Adolescent). Following established scientific protocols, we developed an initial version of the PGS-Adolescent scale and validated it using data from 448 valid survey responses collected from adolescents in China. The dataset was split into two parts: 225 responses were allocated for exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and 223 for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA and CFA processes necessitated the removal of 10 items due to low factor loadings, low communalities, misalignment with intended factors, and inadequate item retention. Significantly, all the survey items measuring daily-life disturbance (DD) were excluded. The final 20-item PGS-Adolescent scale includes four constructs: interpersonal relationships (IRE), schooling disruption (SD), physical consequences (Phy-C), and psychological consequences (Psy-C). Researchers may consider directly applying the validated PGS-Adolescent scale or evaluating its applicability and validity in diverse populations and contexts.

Cumulative ecological risk and problematic smartphone use among Chinese college students: the roles of performance goal orientation, learning goal orientation and psychological resilience

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has emerged as a pressing concern among college students, with cumulative ecological risk identified as a crucial yet enigmatic contributor. To unravel its underlying mechanisms, we devised and validated a model that delves into the mediating roles of performance and learning goal orientations, as well as the moderating influence of psychological resilience. Our investigation encompassed 2011 Chinese college students spanning from freshmen to seniors, aged 16 to 25, utilizing comprehensive scales to assess various constructs. The findings revealed that both performance and learning goal orientations serve as pivotal mediators in the relationship between cumulative ecological risk and PSU. Furthermore, psychological resilience was found to moderate not only the direct link between cumulative ecological risk and PSU but also the indirect pathway through learning goal orientation. These insights underscore the practical significance of fostering healthy achievement goals and enhancing psychological resilience among college students, thereby mitigating the prevalence of PSU.

Smartphone addiction and depression among health sciences students during COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Previous studies indicate an increasing prevalence of depression among university students worldwide. Besides, university students are more likely to excessively use smartphones, making them more susceptible to smartphone addiction. Pandemic conditions can also have negative effects on mental health. Thus, this study aims to investigate the frequency of depression among university students during COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

The study population for this mixed-method research, which includes both qualitative and quantitative components, consists of students studying health sciences at a state university in Istanbul, Türkiye. No sample was selected for the quantitative data collection; instead, it was aimed to reach the entire population. Sociodemographic characteristics, the 10-item Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), and the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used. In the qualitative part of our study, semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 12 students. Statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The study, involving 819 students, found that 25.2% had moderate depression and 5.7% had severe depression. A statistically significant relationship was found between self-perceived smartphone addiction and the presence of moderate-severe depression (p < 0.001). Participants who spent more than 4 h a day on their smartphones, those who checked their smartphones more than 30 times a day, those who perceived themselves as smartphone addicts, and those who experienced smartphone-related sleep problems obtained statistically significantly higher scores from BDI compared to others (p < 0.05). According to our qualitative results, some participants thought that smartphone use could cause a depressive mood by isolating people, while others believed it could do so through the negative effects of social media. All participants reported that the quarantine period increased their smartphone usage.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest a potential interaction between smartphone addiction and depression. This indicates the potential benefit of assessing and addressing both conditions simultaneously.

Relationship Between Problematic Smartphone Use and Graduate Students' Research Self-Efficacy: A Moderated Mediation Model

As Generation Z youth grow up with the Internet, problematic smartphone use is growing more prevalent. This study administered questionnaires containing measures such as the Mobile Phone Addiction Index, the Research Self-Efficacy Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and the Stress Mindset Measure. The survey targeted 2278 graduate students and explored the mechanism through which problematic smartphone use affects research self-efficacy (RSE). The results reveal that problematic smartphone use has significant negative effects on self-efficacy, with mental stress playing a mediating role in this process; that is, problematic smartphone use lowers RSE by increasing mental stress. Meanwhile, the aforementioned negative impacts caused by problematic smartphone use are moderated by stress mindsets: the "stress-is-enhancing" mindset reduces the negative effects of smartphone use on RSE, whereas the "stress-is-debilitating" mindset amplifies these negative effects by enhancing the mediating effect of mental stress.

Longitudinal Digital Phenotyping of Multiple Sclerosis Severity Using Passively Sensed Behaviors and Ecological Momentary Assessments

Background

Longitudinal tracking of multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms in an individual's own environment may improve self-monitoring and clinical management for people with MS (pwMS).

Objective

We present a machine learning approach that enables longitudinal monitoring of clinically relevant patient-reported symptoms for pwMS by harnessing passively collected data from sensors in smartphones and fitness trackers.

Methods

We divide the collected data into discrete periods for each patient. For each prediction period, we first extract patient-level behavioral features from the current period (action features) and the previous period (context features). Then, we apply a machine learning (ML) approach based on Support Vector Machine with Radial Bias Function Kernel and AdaBoost to predict the presence of depressive symptoms (every two weeks) and high global MS symptom burden, severe fatigue, and poor sleep quality (every four weeks).

Results

Between November 16, 2019, and January 24, 2021, 104 pwMS (84.6% women, 93.3% non-Hispanic White, 44.0±11.8 years mean±SD age) from a clinic-based MS cohort completed 12-weeks of data collection, including a subset of 44 pwMS (88.6% women, 95.5% non-Hispanic White, 45.7±11.2 years) who completed 24-weeks of data collection. In total, we collected approximately 12,500 days of passive sensor and behavioral health data from the participants. Among the best-performing models with the least sensor data requirement, ML algorithm predicts depressive symptoms with an accuracy of 80.6% (35.5% improvement over baseline; F1-score: 0.76), high global MS symptom burden with an accuracy of 77.3% (51.3% improvement over baseline; F1-score: 0.77), severe fatigue with an accuracy of 73.8% (45.0% improvement over baseline; F1-score: 0.74), and poor sleep quality with an accuracy of 72.0% (28.1% improvement over baseline; F1-score: 0.70). Further, sensor data were largely sufficient for predicting symptom severity, while the prediction of depressive symptoms benefited from minimal active patient input in the form of response to two brief questions on the day before the prediction point.

Conclusions

Our digital phenotyping approach using passive sensors on smartphones and fitness trackers may help patients with real-world, continuous, self-monitoring of common symptoms in their own environment and assist clinicians with better triage of patient needs for timely interventions in MS (and potentially other chronic neurological disorders).

Exploring Differences in Four Types of Online Activities Across Individuals with and without Problematic Smartphone Use

Studies on problematic online activities commonly focus on one type of online activity, such as social media. However, individuals often use their Smartphones for more than one online activity. This study examined four types of online activities (social networking, gaming, information acquisition, and short-form video viewing). Based on a combinatory assessment of problematic smartphone use and hours spent online, two groups were created from a larger sample (N = 642): a problematic smartphone user group (PSU; N = 230; F = 72%; Age = 24.99 ± 6.60) and a non-problematic smart phone user group (NPSU; N = 87; F = 62%; Age = 30.49 ± 10.22). As compared to the NPSU group, the PSU group engaged in more social networking, gaming, information acquisition, and short-form video seeing. The PSU group also scored higher on psychological distress, sleep disturbance, fear of missing out, metacognitions about Smartphone use (MSU), desire thinking (DT), and lower on satisfaction with life and cognitive reappraisal. Regression analyses were employed to probe correlates of each online activity among the PSU and NPSU groups. The findings are discussed in light of the metacognitive model of addictive behaviors and future directions are provided concerning the challenges of distinguishing individuals for problematic Internet-related behaviors.

The association between digital addiction and interpersonal relationships: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Digital addiction (DA) has been identified as an emerging public health problem worldwide. However, the extent and direction of the association between DA and interpersonal relationships (IRs) are unknown. Does DA have adverse effects on IRs, and how credible is the evidence for this association in published analyses of real-world data? Using the PRISMA method, we conducted a meta-analysis to quantitatively synthesize the results of the relevant studies and obtain reliable effect size estimates and performed an analysis of moderating factors. A systematic literature search identified 98 studies involving 134,593 participants and 99 effect sizes. A significant negative association was observed between DA and IRs. Importantly, our meta-analysis revealed that the DA subtype has no significant moderating effect on IRs, suggesting that combining numerous categories of DA rather than focusing on specific forms of DA may be appropriate for understanding the relationship between DA and IRs. Relative to the IR subtype, the association between DA and offline relationships is significant and negative, whereas the association between DA and online relationships is significant and positive. The strength of the relationship is also influenced by the participants' sex ratio, educational level, and measurement tools. These results may help resolve the disagreement over the magnitude and direction of the association between DA and IRs and have potential implications for the treatment of DA.

Social Aspects of Problematic Smartphone Use: Development and Validation of the PSSNUS and Mental Health Implications for Spanish Youth

Purpose

Addressing the complex pattern of digital behaviors and interactions among youth, this research introduces a novel comprehensive scale, the Problematic Smartphone and Social Network Use Scale (PSSNUS), meticulously developed and validated across five studies.

Methods

Using a mixed-methods approach across five stages, including focus groups (Study 1; n = 31), cognitive interviews (Study 2; n = 16), exploratory factor analysis (Study 3; n = 316), and expert panel (Study 4; n = 4), this procedure reduced 58 initial items to an 18-item scale. Subsequently, a confirmatory factor analysis and further analyses (Study 5; n = 355) examined the factorial structure's replicability, reliability, and validity of the scale.

Results

The PSSNUS manifested as a reliable (ω ranging 0.70-0.89) instrument, comprising a structure with five key factors (x2 = 173.994, df = 125, p = 0.002, CFI = 0.994, CFI = 0.993, SRMR = 0.039, and RMSEA = 0.027) that capture both individual and social aspects of this construct: Psychological dependence (PD), Online interaction preference (OIP), Digital recognition desire (DRD), Social networks control seeking (SNCS), and Productivity loss (PL). Minor gender differences in both the DRD factor and in the overall score were found, with females scoring higher. The PSSNUS showed convergent and divergent validity through significant but modest correlations with daily smartphone usage hours, procrastination, emotional intelligence and mental health symptomatology (anxiety, depression and stress). This measure further exhibited incremental validity, controlling for other possible predictors, regarding anxiety, depression, and stress (6.5, 11.5 and 7.5% of additional variance explained), highlighting the DRD dimension's unique predictive power.

Conclusion

Emerging as a solid instrument, the PSSNUS broadens the concept of problematic smartphone use among young Spaniards to include social functioning aspects, serving as an interesting tool for those aiming to explore further the adverse influence of digital media on youth.

Treatment strategies for smartphone addiction: efficacy study of transcranial direct current stimulation and exergaming

Objective

Smartphone addiction is on the rise globally. This study aimed to compare the rehabilitative effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and exergames on smartphone addiction among college students. Additionally, we discussed the central mechanisms through changes in electroencephalography (EEG) to provide clinical insights.

Methods

Thirty-six participants were randomly assigned to three groups: control group, tDCS group (bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex stimulation), and exergame group. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks with twice-weekly sessions. Outcome measures included the Smartphone Addiction Scale - Chinese Version (SAS-C), Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) net scores, and event-related potential (ERP) data collected during the IGT, focusing on P300 and feedback-related negativity (FRN) amplitudes.

Results

All groups showed significant reductions in SAS-C scores post-intervention. Behaviorally, post-intervention scores improved, indicating significant effects of different interventions on participants' strategy choices. P300 amplitudes increased significantly at outcome electrode sites for all groups, with the most notable increase in tDCS group FC2 and CP1. FRN amplitudes decreased significantly post-intervention in the control and tDCS groups, with significant differences between the two groups.

Conclusion

All three interventions appeared to have alleviating effect on smartphone addiction. After 4 weeks, participants showed improved executive control and decision-making abilities. Specifically, significant effects were observed in the tDCS group, with increased P300 amplitudes in the frontal, parietal, and central regions, as well as FRN amplitudes in the central and frontal regions. This suggested that tDCS enhanced psychological resources and improved inhibition control capabilities.

Exploring the Relationship of Smartphone Addiction on Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Symptoms, and Sleep Quality Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of smartphone usage is steadily rising, leading to the potential development of addiction due to problematic use. This study examined the relationship between smartphone addiction, self-perceived attention deficit and hyperactivity symptoms, and sleep quality among 443 university students at Bingöl University.

METHODS

Participants completed several questionnaires, including the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale.

RESULTS

This study examined 443 participants, with a mean age of 20.97 ± 3.29, of whom 72.7% (n = 322) were female. Results showed that the majority of participants primarily used smartphones (94.8%, n = 420) for social media browsing (49.9%, n = 221). Factors such as smoking, preference for smartphone screens, and prolonged screen exposure significantly affected sleep quality. Smartphone addiction rates were notable, with 50.4% (n = 61) of males and 47.2% (n = 152) of females being affected; this addiction was associated with poorer sleep quality. Correlations were found between age, sleep duration, and scores on smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and attention deficit scales. Linear regression analysis revealed that age, attention deficit scores, and sleep quality scores significantly influenced levels of smartphone addiction.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings contribute valuable insights into the impact of smartphone addiction on attention and sleep in university students.

The Relationship between Parental Smartphone Addiction and Preschool Children's Emotional Regulation

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between parental smartphone addiction and preschool children's emotional regulation.

Methods

A total of 818 preschool children, aged between 3 and 6 years, and their fathers and mothers were included in the study. Data were collected using the Chinese version of the Emotional Regulation Checklist and the Chinese version of the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale. SPSS v. 20.0 was used to conduct descriptive statistical analysis, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and correlation analysis. Mplus v. 7.11 was used to conduct structural equation model analysis.

Results

Girls' emotional regulation was significantly stronger than boys' (P = .037). The emotional regulation of preschool children in the older class was significantly stronger than that of preschool children in the intermediate class and primary class (P = .045). There was no significant difference in emotional regulation between intermediate class children and primary class children (P = .213). Fathers' smartphone addiction (FSA) and mothers' smartphone addiction (MSA) were significant negative predictors of preschool children's emotional regulation (β MSA = -0.541, β FSA = -0.250). Mothers' smartphone addiction had a significantly stronger predictive effect on preschool children's emotional regulation than fathers' smartphone addiction.

Conclusion

This study adds to previous research on parental smartphone addiction and preschool children's emotional regulation. The findings suggest that it is necessary to consider parental smartphone addiction, especially mothers' smartphone addiction, when developing intervention programs to enhance preschool children's emotional regulation.

The relationship between sleep quality, depression, and smartphone addiction in pregnant women: a mediation analysis

In recent years, the prevalence of smartphone addiction has significantly increased. This situation has raised concerns about its potential impact on health aspects, such as sleep quality and mental health, particularly among vulnerable populations like pregnant women. This study aimed to identify the factors that determine sleep quality in pregnant women and examine the relationship between smartphone addiction, depression, and sleep quality. This descriptive correlational study included 257 pregnant women in their second and third trimesters who were registered at six family health centers between September 2022 and March 2023. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Form, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Regression and mediation analyses were performed for the data. Of the participants, 44.4 percent had poor sleep quality. Depression and third trimester were significant determinants of sleep quality. The bootstrapping results revealed that smartphone addiction led to an increase in the level of depression (β = 0.145; p < .001). Depression worsened sleep quality (β = 0.262; p < .001). The smartphone addiction did not significantly affect sleep quality (β = 0.020; p = .279). Depression mediates the relationship between sleep quality and smartphone addiction (β = 0.038; 95 percent CI [0.018: 0.062]). The study highlights that while smartphone addiction does not directly impact sleep quality in pregnant women, it is associated with increased depression levels, which subsequently worsen sleep quality. It is recommended that healthcare providers monitor smartphone usage and mental health in pregnant women to mitigate the risk of sleep disturbances and improve overall well-being.

Path analysis reveals cross-country differences between Czech and Chinese university students in effect of internet and smartphone addiction, mental health, and personality traits on academic achievement in the post-pandemic era

Despite extensive evidence on the impact of various mental health issues including smartphone/internet addiction, and personality traits on academic achievement, little is known about the complex interactions between multiple of these factors simultaneously, as well as cross-country differences in these nuanced relationships. In particular, understanding the role of the mentioned addictions has become increasingly important in recent years in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this cross-country study was to investigate, using path analysis, the complex relationships between mental health determinants (depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and smartphone/internet addiction) and academic achievement in 1785 Czech and Chinese university students using an online battery of psychological tests. The results confirmed the previously described effect of multiple factors (anxiety, stress, resilience, smartphone/internet addiction, personality traits, and sex, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness) on academic achievement, overlapping in most cases for both groups of students. At the same time, however, different country-dependent patterns of interactions emerged. For the Czech students, the variables formed a complex network of interacting factors, whereas for the Chinese students, the effect of each cluster of factors was separate for individual domains of academic achievement. These cross-country differences have implications particularly for planning and targeting the most effective interventions to promote and develop academic achievement.

Unveiling the grip of mobile phone addiction: an in-depth review

Mobile Phone Addiction represents an emergent addictive disorder that gravely jeopardizes the physical and mental health of adolescents worldwide, necessitating exhaustive research. Current reviews of MPA are in dire need of updates and enhancements. Therefore, this review aggregates the extant research spanning the past two decades on the prevalence, pathogenesis, comorbidities, assessment, and treatment of MPA, aiming to furnish a reference for future investigations into this condition.

The dimensional validity and reliability of the Italian smartphone addiction inventory of Yemeni university students

The increasing usage of smartphones globally necessitates the creation of reliable and valid scales to evaluate their psychological effects, particularly within academic settings such as universities. The current study aimed to identify the factorial structure of the Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI) in the Republic of Yemen. The sample consisted of 1920 university students (1136 males and 784 females). The data was analyzed with the AMOS V25 statistical program. The results of the factor analysis supported the goodness of fit of the five-factor model to the data with excellent indices: RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.910, GFI = 0.931, AGFI = 0.915, TLI = 0.907, NFI = 0.915, RFI = 0.916, and RMR = 0.032, all of which are within the ideal range to support the goodness of fit of the model to the factorial structure of the inventory, as the values of the explained variances ranged between 0.740 and 0.834., with indices of reliability in measurement. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed that four items loaded on the Time Spent factor, four items on the Compulsivity factor, eight items on the Daily Life Interference factor, five items on the Craving factor, and three items on the Sleep Interference factor, with all loadings being statistically significant (>0.001). Based on these findings, research direction and recommendations were provided.