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

A Positive View of Excessive Smartphone Utilization and Its Relationship With Other Academic-Related Variables Within the Online Course Setting

The continual use of smartphones is a global problem that requires scholars' attention. This study investigates the impact of excessive smartphone use, self-regulation, and procrastination on students' online academic performance. A total of n = 238 university students participated in the study. Mean comparisons unveiled clear discrepancy scores on procrastination, self-regulation, and daily hours spent on smartphones between the smartphone-addicted and non-addicted students. Structural Equation Modeling helps us to answer our hypothesis. Unusually, smartphone use had a significant and positive effect on online students' academic performance. Also, the study provides a better understanding of the procrastination factor that significantly impacts students' smartphone use and online academic performance. Results are discussed considering possible interventions at the academic level.

Worry and fear of missing out are associated with problematic smartphone and social media use severity

In the present study we aimed to investigate whether worry or FOMO would be the more robust correlate of problematic smartphone use (PSU) and problematic social media use (PSMU) severity. We analyzed self-report data from a cross-sectional study of 456 American college students, administered measures of worry, fear of missing out (FOMO), PSU and PSMU. Using structural equation modeling analyses controlling for age and sex, we found that worry and FOMO were both significantly related to greater PSU and PSMU severity; these relationships were stronger for FOMO than worry. Furthermore, FOMO mediated relations between worry with both PSU and PSMU severity. Results are discussed in relation to the I-PACE theoretical model of Internet use disorders, explaining how cognitive and affective response variables may be mechanisms driving relations between psychopathology and problematic Internet use.

The association between problematic smartphone use and subjective well-being in Bangladeshi youths: Mediating role of sleep quality

Despite the remarkable contribution of smartphones in improving our lives, concerns have been raised about their uncontrolled usage, emphasizing its consequences on individual sleep and well-being. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and both positive and negative dimensions of subjective well-being (SWB) - subjective happiness and depressive symptoms, as well as the mediating role of sleep quality. A sample of 384 Bangladeshi youths (mean age = 18.99; 49.3 % female) were recruited through a convenience sampling technique and interviewed using a structured questionnaire that assessed PSU, sleep quality, subjective happiness, and depressive symptoms. The mediation analysis results indicated that sleep quality mediated the association between PSU and subjective happiness and depressive symptoms. The results also showed that subjective sleep quality, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction were particularly responsible for the mediation effect. Thus, the findings highlight the necessity of designing sleep quality-enhancing interventions for youth to subside PSU's detrimental effects on subjective well-being.

The impact of personalized postoperative care plan on the compliance and long-term efficacy of minimally invasive periodontal surgery treatment recommendations

PURPOSE

Periodontal disease significantly affects oral health and contributes to adult tooth loss worldwide. Minimally invasive periodontal surgery (MIPS) aims to enhance outcomes while reducing postoperative discomfort. The efficacy of such surgeries largely depends on postoperative care. This study evaluates the effect of personalized postoperative care plans on patient compliance and outcomes compared to standard care.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 118 patients who underwent MIPS between April 2022 and March 2024. Patients were divided into a control group receiving standard care (n = 67) and an intervention group receiving personalized care (n = 51). Procedures included structured assessments of compliance, gingival health, pain, anxiety, depression, and satisfaction using validated scales.

FINDINGS

Post-intervention, the personalized care group showed significantly improved gingival indices (BI, PLI, GI, SBI), compliance scores, and curative effect rates (p < 0.05). Pain (VAS score) and sensitivity were reduced (p < 0.05), alongside significant decreases in anxiety (SAS) and depression (SDS) scores (p < 0.01). Patient satisfaction rates were higher in the intervention group, with greater reports of 'very satisfied' experiences (p = 0.006). OHIP-14 scores indicated improved oral health quality in the personalized care group (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Personalized care enhances compliance and long-term efficacy of MIPS through tailored interventions addressing individual patient needs, leading to improved clinical and psychosocial outcomes.

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.

Impulsivity and problematic social network sites use: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Problematic Social Network Sites Use (PSNSU) has been defined as the inability to self-regulate one's use of social networks that adversely affects the user's interpersonal relationships, work or academic activities, and psychological well-being. Among PSNSU risk factors, impulsivity has gained attention. Evidence has emerged about the importance of considering impulsivity from a multidimensional approach since specific dimensions of impulsivity were found to be involved in specific addictive behaviors. Therefore, the present meta-analysis aims to examine the association between PSNSU and (i) general impulsivity and (ii) specific dimensions of impulsivity.

METHOD

A keyword-based systematic literature search was performed for eligible studies in which impulsivity and PSNSU were assessed. The meta-analysis was conducted following the most updated PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies were included in the quantitative analysis with 43 independent samples. Meta-analytic results of the random effects model showed a significant positive correlation between general impulsivity and PSNSU (Fisher's Z = 0.29; CI 0.24, 0.35; Z = 10.66). Concerning dimensions of impulsivity, meta-analytic results of the random effects model revealed a significant positive correlation between PSNSU and lack of premeditation (Fisher's Z = 0.11 CI 0.09, 0.13; Z = 13.25) and between PSNSU and lack of perseverance (Fisher's Z = 0.19; CI 0.17, 0.20; Z = 22.67). Significant positive correlations between PSNSU and attentional impulsivity (Fisher's Z = 0.18; CI 0.12, 0.23; Z = 6.29), non-planning impulsivity (Fisher's Z = 0.10; CI 0.02, 0.19; Z = 2.35), and motor impulsivity (Fisher's Z = 0.22; CI 0.16, 0.27; Z = 7.45) were also found.

DISCUSSION

These results confirmed that PSNSU is positively associated with impulsivity and helped to clarify which specific dimensions of impulsivity are involved in this association.

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.

Psychological education in higher education: Opportunities and challenges in the Internet+ era

In the context of "Internet+," the rapid development and integration of information technology in China have brought new opportunities and challenges to psychological education in higher education. Compared with traditional psychological education, the high information throughput and multichannel presentation of "Internet+" have altered students’ cognitive characteristics. Consequently, traditional psychological education methods are no longer suitable for the current environment, and education methods pose new challenges for higher education. New media technologies within the "Internet+" framework have played a crucial role in psychological education. Further research is needed to explore new applications for enhancing the quality of psychological education in higher education institutions. This paper reviews the current opportunities and challenges faced by psychological education in the context of "Internet+", and explores a mechanism-driven, collaborative, and efficient educational strategy that is responsive to new conditions.

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.

Does depression drive technology overuse or vice-versa? a cross-lagged panel analysis of bidirectional relationships among Chinese university students

BACKGROUND

The escalating prevalence of depression among university students coincides with unprecedented technology engagement, yet the directional relationship remains contested. While cross-sectional research suggests associations between technology use patterns and depressive symptoms, longitudinal evidence examining bidirectional influences remains scarce, particularly in non-Western populations.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the bidirectional relationships between specific technology use patterns and depression severity among Chinese university students using a methodologically rigorous longitudinal design.

METHODS

This study conducted a four-wave longitudinal study with assessments at 3-month intervals among undergraduate students (N = 737) from three universities in eastern China. Participants completed validated measures of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), and technology use patterns (duration, timing, motivational contexts). Cross-lagged panel models with random intercepts were used to examine bidirectional relationships while controlling for between-person differences and covariates.

RESULTS

Total technology use exhibited significant bidirectional relationships with depression, but specific patterns showed distinct relationships. Night-time use (β = 0.16, 95% CI [0.08-0.24], p < 0.001) and social-comparison-motivated use (β = 0.19, 95% CI [0.11-0.27], p < 0.001) predicted subsequent increases in depression, with stronger effects than the reverse pathway (depression to increased technology use). Conversely, depression predicted increased escapism-motivated technology use (β = 0.23, 95% CI [0.14-0.32], p < 0.001) more strongly than the reverse pathway. Body mass index significantly moderated these relationships, with stronger technology-to-depression effects among participants with overweight/obesity (β = 0.27, 95% CI [0.16-0.38], p < 0.001) compared to normal-weight participants (β = 0.11, 95% CI [0.03-0.19], p = 0.009). The observed relationships remained significant after adjusting for anxiety, sleep quality, and socioeconomic factors.

CONCLUSION

These findings reveal complex, pattern-specific bidirectional relationships between technology use and depression, with important temporal precedence differences. The results suggest that certain technology use contexts may contribute more strongly to depression development, while depression may drive other specific usage patterns. These findings have implications for targeted intervention approaches addressing both depression and problematic technology use among university students.

"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 relationship between chronotype, sleep quality, and smartphone addiction in health sciences students in Morocco and Spain

Poor sleep quality can cause various health problems. Despite this evidence, much research demonstrates significant heterogeneity in the amounts that people sleep across cultures. This suggests that despite serving fundamental biological functions, sleep is also subject to cultural influence. Variations in chronotype and problematic smartphone use influence sleep quality, and both poor sleep and smartphone addiction can result in poor health and academic performance. This study aimed to measure the associations between chronotype, sleep quality, and smartphone addiction in a population of 1210 health sciences university students in Morocco and Spain. The Horne and Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Smartphone Addiction Scale were used to assess the study variables. The study found that the majority of students belonged to the "Neutral" chronotype (73.9%), that the prevalence of smartphone addiction was fairly high (46.3%), and that the prevalence of poor sleep quality was high (74.0%). Associations were found between chronotype and smartphone addiction (p < 0.001), subjective sleep quality (p = 0.006), sleep duration (p = 0.005), sleep disturbances (p = 0.013), and use of sleep medications (p = 0.003). Chronotype was also associated with gender (p = 0.009), country of study (p < 0.001), field of study (p < 0.001), and chronic health problems (p = 0.001). Associations between chronotype and field of study (p < 0.001 for the evening chronotype), sleep disturbance (p < 0.001 and p = 0.026 for both the evening and morning chronotypes), and smartphone addiction (p < 0.001 for the morning chronotype) were confirmed in the multivariate analysis. Our study highlights associations with chronotype that affect sleep quality and addictive behavior when young health sciences students use smartphones. This implies the need to teach or develop strategies to prevent or minimize the negative consequences of the chronotype on mental health and its effects on production. Educational activities on sleep hygiene strategies, the healthy use of smartphones taking into account the chronotype in health sciences students, are needed in order to benefit mental health offuture healthcare professionals.

Smartphone Addiction, Insomnia, Loneliness, and Self-Esteem Among Nursing Students: A Correlation Study

AIM

This study aims to explore the prevalence of smartphone addiction among nursing students and its correlation with their levels of insomnia, loneliness, and self-esteem.

METHODS

In this correlational study, 515 consenting undergraduate nursing students studying in various nursing colleges,were enrolled through total enumerative sampling from April to November 2024. We excluded nursing students with a diagnosis or history of mental health problems (anxiety, depression, etc.).

RESULTS

In the present study, 23.1% (N = 515) of the nursing students were found to have smartphone addiction. Most participants (66.03%) did not have clinically significant insomnia, followed by 26.21%, 6.79%, and 0.97% of participants with mild, moderate, and severe insomnia, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation of loneliness was 45.58 ± 8.98, with high levels of loneliness being most prevalent (64.46%). The mean ± standard deviation of self-esteem was 27.94 ± 4.89, and 66.21% of the participants had high self-esteem. The correlation analysis showed that smartphone addiction, insomnia, and loneliness, scores were significantly positively correlated (p < .01). On the other hand, self-esteem scores were negatively correlated with smartphone addiction, insomnia, and loneliness scores (p < .01). Multiple linear regression has shown that high levels of insomnia and loneliness and low self-esteem positively predicted smartphone addiction (p < .01).

CONCLUSION

In summary, nursing students suffered high loneliness and were strongly associated with smartphone addiction, insomnia and self-esteem. Overuse on smartphone addiction can cause low self-esteem and increased insomnia can develop into sleep problems. Smartphone addiction among college students must be strictly monitored, and such individuals require reverent supervision and intervention programmes, so that it can be detected at an earliest. After academic hours, other sports, entertainment, and cultural programs should be considered to reduce the screen time.

Smartphone addiction and malevolent creativity-the mediating role of psychological capital and the moderating role of self-concept clarity

Purpose

This study examines the correlation among smartphone addiction (SA) and malevolent creativity, as well as the underlying mechanisms involved. A moderated mediation framework was established to investigate the impact of SA on malevolent creativity in college students, taking into account the mediating influence of psychological capital and the moderating effect of self-concept clarity (SCC).

Method

This survey was conducted from May 10 to August 15, 2024 at a higher education institution in a central city of China. A total of 1,091 Chinese college students completed measuring SA, psychological capital, SCC, and malevolent creativity. Correlation and mediational moderation studies were performed utilizing SPSS (version 25.0) and AMOS (version 23.0).

Results

The association research indicated that SA exhibited a beneficial association with malevolent creativity and SCC, while demonstrating an adverse relationship with psychological capital. Additionally, malevolent creativity had an adverse association with psychological capital and positively and a good correlation with SCC. Furthermore, psychological capital was negatively correlated with SCC. The structural equation modeling investigation indicated that SA directly predicts malevolent creativity in college students, but psychological capital exerts an indirect predictive influence between the two variables. Specifically, psychological capital was found to be a partial mediator and buffer between SA and malevolent creativity. In addition, SCC moderated the second half of the "smartphone addiction →psychological capital → malevolent creativity" path and moderated the "smartphone addiction → malevolent creativity" path.

Conclusion

SA directly and indirectly affects malevolent creativity through psychological capital. SCC serves as a mitigating factor between SA and malevolent creativity. The association between psychological capital and malevolent creativity is great when the degree of self-concept is elevated, whereas the correlation between SA and malevolent creativity is also rather substantial.

Interaction Among Smartphone Addiction, Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Systems and Mental Health Factors Among Chinese Undergraduate Student: A Study Using Network Analysis

Background

Smartphone addiction, which represents a behavioral concern, has been found to correlate with a diverse range of mental health problems among the undergraduate students. Meanwhile, the modes of behavioral inhibition/activation showed specific characteristics in smartphone addiction individuals. Therefore, clarifying the interaction of mental health and behavioral modes with smartphone addiction is urgent. Here, we used a cross-sectional design, aiming to explore the network interactions among smartphone addiction, mental health (depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness and life satisfaction), and the behavioral inhibition/activation system (BIS/BAS) in undergraduate students.

Methods

We employed network analysis and community detection in R, to investigate the centrality and edge connections, which are the mainly index of key factors and interaction effects between factors respectively. The study was carried out among 701 participants with an average age of 18.27 ± 1.57 years old, all of whom had completed self-report scales.

Results

The network analysis results suggested that depression and anxiety, the behavioral activation of fun seeking, reward responsiveness and behavioral inhibition had significantly higher centrality than the other mental health and BIS/BAS factors respectively. When combining the connections of network analysis and community detection, the stronger connections mainly present in the inner domain of mental health factors and the BIS/BAS, respectively. The findings regarding the transdomain connections imply that stress is likely to serve as a mediator in the relationships between smartphone addiction and both depression as well as BAS-Drive.

Conclusion

Therefore, the current study suggests that although common psychological and behavioral system problems may play a dominant role in smartphone addiction among undergraduate students, it is still necessary to consider whether other factors such as stress may play a potential moderating role. The new insight will help to enhance mental health and facilitating proper smartphone use management to avoid the aggravation of addiction problems among undergraduate student.

Smartphone addiction and sleep quality among nursing students in Meknes, Morocco: A cross-sectional study

Background

Smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality are prevalent health concerns that negatively impact students' physical and mental well-being, which could affect their academic performance. However, research on this subject in Morocco remains limited.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the impact of smartphone addiction on sleep quality and identify risk factors that moderate this relationship among nursing students.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2023, involving 451 nursing students aged 17 to 23 at the Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques in Meknes, Morocco. Participants completed the Mobile Phone-Related Sleep Risk Factors Questionnaire (MRSRF), the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Binary logistic regression (BLR), Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, and Area Under Curve (AUC) analyses were used to assess the impact of smartphone addiction on sleep quality and to identify moderating risk factors.

Results

The study found that 81.23% of nursing students experienced smartphone addiction, and 86.47% reported poor sleep quality. Sleep quality was significantly correlated with smartphone addiction (β = 0.174; p <0.001), use before bedtime (β = 1.018; p = 0.030), and duration of use after lights-off (β = 0.768; p = 0.047). Logistic regression analysis indicated that smartphone addiction (AUC = 0.872; p <0.001) and duration of use after lights-off (AUC = 0.668; p <0.001) were significant predictors of sleep quality.

Conclusion

This study found a significant correlation between smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality, as well as a negative impact of using smartphones in bed for more than 30 minutes after lights off. Nursing students with higher smartphone addiction levels, who use their devices for extended periods without blue light filters, are more likely to experience poor sleep quality. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated, multidisciplinary approach involving healthcare professionals, educators, and community stakeholders. Health promotion programs integrated into student curricula could help reduce smartphone addiction and encourage healthier sleep hygiene practices.

Exploring the Intrinsic Association Between Perceived Social Support and Depressive Symptoms and Problematic Phone Use Among College Students Based on Network Analysis

Purpose

A network analysis model was used to explore the complex associations between college students' perceived social support and depressive symptoms and problematic phone use from a specific symptom perspective;.

Methods

A total of 3869 study participants were included in this study using convenience sampling from five different universities in five different provinces in China. Perceived Social Support Scale was been used to measure the perceived social support level of college students, the extent of problematic smartphone use was evaluated using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale to assess the depressive symptoms. A network analysis model was used to explore the intrinsic associations between their specific symptoms of perceived social support, depressive symptoms and problematic phone use;.

Results

The results revealed that social support from family and from friends played a potentially critical role in alleviating depressive symptoms and reducing problematic phone use among college students;.

Conclusion

The support given by family and peers is of great practical importance in reducing problematic cell phone use and controlling the development of depressive symptoms in the college population.

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.

Smartphone addiction and sleep quality in the physical activity-anxiety link: a mediation-moderation model

Background

Anxiety symptoms are common among university students in China, posing challenges to mental health. Physical activity may reduce anxiety, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study examines how smartphone addiction acts as a mediator and sleep quality as a moderator in the relationship between physical activity and anxiety, aiming to offer theoretical insights and practical strategies for mental health interventions.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2023 at Guangxi University. A stratified sampling method was used to approach 719 students from diverse physical education classes to distribute questionnaires, and 527 valid questionnaires were returned. Validated instruments included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Data analysis involved standardization, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, normality testing, mediation and moderation analyses, and Bootstrap validation.

Results

(1) Physical activity was negatively correlated with smartphone addiction (r = -0.13, p < 0.01). (2) Smartphone addiction was positively correlated with poor sleep quality (r = 0.40, p < 0.01) and anxiety (r = 0.43, p < 0.01). (3) Poor sleep quality and anxiety were significantly correlated (r = 0.57, p < 0.01). (4) A masking effect occurred as the non-significant positive direct effect (β = 0.062) was nearly canceled out by the mediation of smartphone addiction (β = -0.058), inducing total effect near-zero. (5) Sleep quality significantly influenced the link between smartphone addiction and anxiety, especially in those with poorer sleep, where the impact of smartphone addiction on anxiety was stronger (β = 0.061, p = 0.036).

Conclusion

This study revealed a more complex relationship between physical activity and anxiety than initially hypothesized. Our findings further revealed the relationship between physical activity and university students' anxiety, and considered the mediating role of smartphone addiction between the two, as well as the moderating role of sleep quality in the relationship between mobile phone addiction and university students' anxiety.

The Longitudinal Relationship Between Sibling Smartphone Addiction and Child Smartphone Addiction

Background

The global rise in smartphone addiction among children is linked to increasing mental, physical, familial, and financial problems. This study aimed to longitudinally explore the impact of sibling smartphone addiction on child smartphone addiction. While the influences of parental smartphone addiction and peer groups on smartphone addiction have been studied, more research is needed to examine the longitudinal effects of sibling smartphone addiction, a significant family member during childhood, on child smartphone addiction.

Methods

This study conducted a longitudinal analysis using four years of panel data (2019-2022) from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS). The final analysis included a total of 1,978 participants, comprising fourth-grade elementary school children (n=989) and their siblings (n=989). The changes in smartphone addiction over the four years were analyzed using latent growth analysis.

Results

First, while the rate of change in child smartphone addiction was higher, both sibling and child smartphone addiction increased over time. Lower initial smartphone addiction levels were linked to a greater increase in smartphone usage over time. These results indicate the need for interventions targeting groups with lower initial levels of smartphone addiction. Second, higher initial levels of sibling smartphone addiction were associated with greater child smartphone addiction, and the change rate of sibling smartphone addiction influenced that of child smartphone addiction. As sibling smartphone addiction sharply increased over time, child smartphone addiction similarly escalated dramatically. On the other hand, it was found that as sibling smartphone addiction increases gradually, child smartphone addiction also increases gradually.

Conclusion

This study identified the longitudinal impact of sibling smartphone addiction on the onset and progression of child smartphone addiction. The findings suggest that when preventing and intervening in the risk of child smartphone addiction, it is effective to consider the issue of sibling smartphone addiction in a long-term context.

Relationship of Smartphone Addiction with Cyberbullying, Alcohol Use, Depression, and Anxiety Among University Students

Smartphone addiction is one of the major social issues among young people these days. The current study aims to identify the determinants of smartphone addiction and examine the association between smartphone addiction and multiple behavioral/psychological problems. The study sample consisted of 1105 university students from Singapore. Students in the high-risk smartphone use group reported higher levels of smartphone addiction, cybervictimization, and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Depressive and anxiety symptoms showed a positive association with smartphone addiction. Additionally, both depressive and anxiety symptoms had significant indirect effects when assessing two separate simple mediation models. When testing the parallel mediation model, the indirect effect of cybervictimization on smartphone addiction occurred through anxiety but not depression. Based on these findings, the current study proposed the implementation of routine screening and the provision of multi-level services in education settings. Nevertheless, the study has limitations related to the study population and the use of self-reported questionnaires.

Text Neck and Its Association With Cardiac Autonomic Function, Smartphone Addiction, and Psychophysiological Status in Young Adults

Background The increasing use of mobile devices has led to a rise in forward head posture (FHP), or "text neck," contributing to health issues. Additionally, nomophobia, or the fear of being without a mobile phone, has emerged as a growing behavioral concern, particularly among younger users. Methods This cross-sectional study aimed to assess FHP and its association with cardiac autonomic function, smartphone addiction, nomophobia, ergonomic risk, and neck disability in 84 participants aged 19-45 years. FHP was evaluated via craniovertebral (CV) angle measurement and cardiac autonomic status through heart rate variability, alongside smartphone addiction and psychological distress. Results Heart rate variability (HRV) analyses revealed a significant inverse relationship between the CV angle and the LF/HF ratio, indicating heightened sympathetic activity with reduced CV angle. Parasympathetic indicators, root mean square of successive differences between adjacent NN intervals (RMSSD) and pNN50, positively correlated with CV angle, suggesting a link between optimal posture and enhanced parasympathetic function. Psychophysiological assessments showed that smartphone addiction moderately correlated with nomophobia. Conclusion Text neck or forward head posture is associated with increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic modulation, as evidenced by HRV indices.

Psychometric evaluation and measurement invariance of the problematic smartphone use scale among college students: A national survey of 130 145 participants

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Given the insufficient validation of previously imported smartphone addiction scales in China, this study revised and evaluated the Problematic Smartphone Use Scale among Chinese college students (PSUS-C).

METHODS

We based our research on a national sample comprising 1324 higher education institutions and 130 145 participants. Using cross-sectional data, comprehensive methods were employed to examine validity, reliability and measurement invariance.

RESULTS

The final scale consists of 20 items across four dimensions: withdrawal and loss of control, negative impact, salience behaviors and excessive use. All Heterotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) values were below 0.85, and the lower 90% and upper 95% confidence intervals were also below 0.85, except for factors 1 and 3. The amount of variance (AVE) values were greater than 0.5, composite reliability (ω) values exceeded 0.89 and all factor loadings were above 0.5. The criterion validity was supported as expected: problematic smartphone usage positively correlated with depression (r = 0.451), loneliness (8 items, r = 0.455), loneliness (6 items, r = 0.504), social media use (r = 0.614) and phone usage duration (r = 0.148); and negatively correlated with life satisfaction (r = -0.218) and self-esteem (r = -0.416). Across sex, type of university and place of residence, the measurement invariance performed well, with most changes in root mean square error of approximation (ΔRMSEA), comparative fit index (ΔCFI) and Tucker-Lewis index (ΔTLI) values being less than 0.005, and no indicator showing a difference greater than 0.010.

CONCLUSIONS

The Problematic Smartphone Use Scale for College Students (PSUS-C) demonstrated good factor structure, internal consistency, construct validity, discriminant validity and criterion validity. Strict and structural invariance were demonstrated across sex, type of university and place of residence. The PSUS-C has the potential to assess smartphone addiction among Chinese university students.

Examining the double-edged effects of digital literacy on the social integration of retirement migrants

Introduction

The retiree group tend to suffer "digital gap" and "digital indulgence" at the same time. This study aims to examine how such double-edged effects will shape the social integration of retirement migrants. Based on the Self-Determination Theory and the Uses and Gratifications Theory, a conceptual framework was proposed where the impact of digital literacy is mediated by tourist empowerment and smartphone addiction.

Methods

This framework was tested using survey data gathered from 369 Chinese retirement migrants. Data were collected using convenience sampling and analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0.

Result

Findings reveal the following key insights: (1) Digital literacy significantly enhances the social integration of retirement migrants; (2) Tourist empowerment acts as a mediator in the positive correlation between digital literacy and social integration; (3) Smartphone addiction detrimentally influences the lifestyle habits dimension of social integration among retirement migrants.

Discussion

This study was amongst the first to approach the double-edged effects of digital literacy, and the findings could be conducive to improving the welfare of retirees.

Reciprocal associations of future time perspective and smartphone addiction among Chinese college students: Disaggregation of between-person and within-person effects

Smartphone addiction negatively affects physical and mental health. Future time perspective, a key personality and social cognitive factor, may not only be a protective factor for addictive behaviors but may also be shaped during the development of addiction. Based on three waves of data collected from Chinese college students (N = 622, 46.95% male, Mage = 18.16, SD = 1.49), this study examined the within-person and between-person effects on the associations between future time perspective and smartphone addiction. The results of the traditional cross-lagged model demonstrated a bidirectional negative association between future time perspective and smartphone addiction. The results of the random intercept cross-lagged panel model also indicated a reciprocal negative within-person effect between future time perspective and smartphone use consistently over time while controlling for the significantly negative between-person effect. These findings deepen the understanding of the longitudinal relationship between future time perspective and smartphone 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.

The mediating effect of parental monitoring in the association between parent-child relationship harmony and smartphone addiction: findings from a nationwide youth survey in China

BACKGROUND

The increasing prevalence of smartphone addiction among youth has raised concerns. Previous research has indicated that poor parent-child relationship can lead to youth smartphone addiction. However, parent-child relationship harmony involves multiple parties and is difficult to intervene in due to family authority and other factors. Focusing on the pathways between parent-child relationships harmony and smartphone addiction is crucial for preventing smartphone addiction. This study was conducted to examine the role of parental monitoring as a mediator and the role of self-control as a moderator in the association between the parent-child relationship harmony and smartphone addiction among Chinese youth.

METHODS

The nationwide survey included 9,270 youth in the Chinese mainland. The data collected included individual characteristics, smartphone addiction status, parent‒child relationship harmony, parental monitoring and self-control were collected. Sample weights were applied to ensure that the composition of our sample was consistent with the official statistics for each provincial-level administrative division on gender and school type. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the mediating effect of parental monitoring and the moderating effect of self-control in the association between the parent-child relationship harmony and smartphone addiction.

RESULTS

Among the 10,000 weighted participants, 5,166 (51.7%) were male, and 3,608 (36.0%) were aged 16 to 18 years. Parental monitoring mediated 48.14% (95% CI: 40.24 to 56.03) of the association between the parent‒child relationship harmony and smartphone addiction. The partial mediating effect of parental monitoring was differed across gender and age groups, and there was no significant heterogeneity. Moreover, self-control negatively moderated the indirect effects of parental monitoring on smartphone addiction (β = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.57 to -0.38), and the mediating effect of parental monitoring decreased as self-control increased.

CONCLUSION

Our study explored the association between parent-child relationship harmony and youth smartphone addiction, which appeared to be partially mediated by efficient parental monitoring. Self-control played a moderating role in the indirect pathway of the mediating effect.

Short video addiction scale for middle school students: development and initial validation

The rise of short video platforms has increased concerns about addiction, especially among adolescents. This study aimed to develop a Short Video Addiction Scale for middle school students. A sample of 1492 middle school students participated in the study. Initial items were derived from qualitative interviews and refined through psychometric analyses, including Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses. The final scale, consisting of 15 items across five factors (Academic Procrastination, Interpersonal Strain, Social Communication Difficulties, Attention Concentration Difficulties, and Impaired Control over Short Video Use), demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.900), test-retest reliability, and strong validity. The Short Video Addiction Scale, a 15-item scale, demonstrates robust psychometric properties. It is reliable and valid for assessing short video addiction among middle school students and will be a valuable tool for identifying and addressing the growing concerns of short video addiction in adolescents.

Effect of Smartphone Use on Musculoskeletal Pain Among Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between smartphone use and musculoskeletal pain among healthcare workers of different occupations. The research sought to examine the connection between smartphone habits and the prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal pain, with a focus on work-related and personal smartphone use, physical activity, temporomandibular dysfunction and neck disability.

Methods

The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design conducted via Google Forms targeting healthcare workers affiliated with Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital. The survey comprised 99 questions assessing demographic and professional information, health conditions, smartphone addiction, physical activity level, musculoskeletal pain, and pain-related disability.

Results

A total of 207 hospital staff members' responses were included in the analysis. Participants with higher smartphone addiction scores exhibited a significantly younger mean age and increased smartphone usage post-pandemic. No significant differences were found in physical activity levels between groups. However, those with higher addiction scores reported more frequent pain in the jaw and elbows, greater neck disability score, and a higher prevalence of temporomandibular dysfunction. The study also revealed a significant association between smartphone addiction and multi-site musculoskeletal pain.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that smartphone addiction among healthcare workers is associated with specific patterns of musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the jaw and elbows, and increased neck disability scores. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to promote healthier smartphone habits and mitigate musculoskeletal pain among healthcare professionals.

Attentional bias towards smartphone stimuli is associated with decreased interoceptive awareness and increased physiological reactivity

Excessive smartphone use has been linked to negative psychological outcomes and may also be associated with cognitive impairments and disruptions in mind-body interaction, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated attentional bias towards marginal smartphone stimuli and its relationship with interoceptive awareness and physiological cue reactivity in healthy young adults. Fifty-eight participants completed a letter detection task with varying perceptual loads, during which task-irrelevant smartphone-related or scrambled images were presented in the background. Cardiac responses were recorded to assess physiological reactivity. Participants also completed two questionnaires for interoceptive awareness and self-report smartphone addiction. Using a designed and automated clustering based on behavioural responses, participants were classified into two groups: one group exhibited distraction from smartphone background only under low perceptual load, while the other showed consistent attentional bias regardless of load. Notably, the latter group reported significantly lower interoceptive awareness and higher smartphone addiction scores. Additionally, they exhibited heart rate acceleration in response to smartphone stimuli, indicating heightened arousal, whereas the former group showed heart rate deceleration. These findings demonstrate that consistent attentional bias towards smartphone stimuli is associated with reduced interoceptive awareness, specifically a decreased tendency to notice and trust internal bodily sensations, and increased physiological reactivity.

Smartphone addiction among elderly individuals: its relationship with physical activity, activities of daily living, and balance levels

BACKGROUND

The growing use of smartphones among elderly individuals, driven by social and informational needs, may lead to smartphone addiction, potentially impacting their daily lives. This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference in physical activity, activities of daily living, and balance levels between elderly individuals with and without smartphone addiction.

METHODS

This descriptive and cross-sectional study included 94 elderly individuals. Data were obtained using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (Lawton IADL), the Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale (FAB-T), and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). The participants were divided into two groups according to their SAS-SV scores: those with (n = 45) and those without (n = 49) smartphone addiction.

RESULTS

When the groups with and without smartphone addiction were compared, there was a significant difference between the groups in terms of Lawton IADL (t = 4.223, p < 0.001), total PASE (t = 7.791, p < 0.001), PASE work-related activity (t = 2.541, p = 0.013), household activity (t = 3.598, p = 0.001), and leisure activity (t = 7.063, p < 0.001). Structural equation modeling showed that Lawton IADL (β = -0.320, p < 0.001), PASE total (β = -0.518, p < 0.001), and PASE work-related activity (β = -0.211, p = 0.033), household activity (β = -0.300, p = 0.002), and leisure time activity (β = -0.483, p < 0.001) subscales had a direct negative predictive effect on SAS-SV. FAB-T had a direct positive predictive effect on total PASE (β = 0.186, p = 0.030) and work-related activity subscales (β = 0.197, p = 0.046). FAB-T had a direct positive predictive effect on Lawton IADL (β = 0.247, p = 0.009), but a direct negative effect on TUG (β = -0.541, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The study determined that smartphone addiction was directly related to the maintenance of physical activity and daily living activities in elderly individuals but did not lead to a change in balance status. Future studies should consider including potential confounders, such as baseline physical fitness, socioeconomic status, and cognitive impairment, in structural equation modeling to provide more comprehensive insights.

The relationship between smartphone addiction and sleep quality in older adults: the mediating role of loneliness and depression

BACKGROUND

This study explores the relationship between smartphone addiction and sleep quality, and to further assess the mediating role of loneliness and depression.

METHODS

A survey of 200 older adults individuals was conducted using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) for smartphone addiction, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality, Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) for depression, and DeJong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DGLS) for loneliness. Linear regression and mediation analysis were performed for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A negative causal relationship was observed between smartphone addiction and sleep quality in the older adults (p < 0.05). Depression and loneliness in the older adults may potentially exacerbate the effect of smartphone addiction on sleep quality (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Individuals with smartphone addiction appeared to have poorer sleep quality, psychological factors play a mediating role in the association between smartphone addiction and sleep quality in the older adults. This emphasizes the importance of care for the mental health of the older adults and recognizes the negative impact of smartphone addiction on their quality of life.

The impact of COVID-19 on the peer relationships of adolescents around the world: A rapid systematic review

The main objective of this rapid systematic review was to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted peer relationships for adolescents (10-25 years of age) around the globe. We focused on four indices of peer relationships: (1) loneliness, (2) social connectedness, (3) social support, and (4) social media use. In addition, we examined gender and age differences. Four databases (APA PsychInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched for articles published from January 2020 to November 2022. A total of 96 studies (cross-sectional: n = 66, longitudinal: n = 30, quantitative: n = 67, qualitative: n = 12, mixed-methods: n = 17) met our inclusion criteria (empirical observational studies with data on at least one of the indices of interest, cross-sectional data on COVID-19-related experiences or longitudinal data collected during the pandemic, age range of 10-25 years, typically developing adolescents). We extracted data and conducted a narrative synthesis. Findings suggest that COVID-19 disruptions negatively impacted peer relationships for youth. Most studies reported either an increase in loneliness over the course of the pandemic or a positive association between loneliness and COVID-19-related experiences. Similar findings were observed for increased social media use as a means of continued communication and connection. Fewer studies focused on social support but those that did reported a decrease or negative association with COVID-19-related experiences. Lastly, findings suggest a mixed impact on social connectedness, which might be due to the strengthening of closer ties and weakening of more distant relationships. Results for gender differences were mixed, and a systematic comparison of differences across ages was not possible. The heterogeneity in measures of COVID-19-related experiences as well as timing of data collection prevented a more nuanced examination of short and more long-term impacts.

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.

Smartphone screen time reduction improves mental health: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Smartphone screen time has risen sharply in recent years. Even though an association between smartphone use and mental health is well documented, it is still unclear whether this is simply a correlation or causality. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of smartphone screen time reduction on mental health indicators.

METHODS

This non-blinded, parallel randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed to investigate the impact of a 3-week screen time reduction to ≤ 2 h/d in healthy students on stress (PSQ), well-being (WHO-5), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), and sleep quality (ISI) at baseline (t0), post-intervention (t1), and at follow-up (t2 = 6 weeks after t1). For the intention to treat analysis, repeated measures ANOVAs and post-hoc tests (for time as well as group differences) were performed and effect sizes were presented as partial eta squared (η2 = time × group) and group-mean differences.

RESULTS

In total, 111 out of 125 healthy students (70 females; mean age = 22.68 ± 2.6 years; mean screen time = 276 ± 115.1 min/day) were randomly assigned to intervention-(n = 58; 3 weeks of screen time reduction to ≤ 2 h/day) or control group (n = 53). Although no differences were observed at baseline (t0), significant post-intervention (t1) effects of small to medium size were observed on well-being (η2 = .053), depressive symptoms (η2 = .109), sleep quality (η2 = .048), and stress (η2 = .085). Significant group differences (p ≤ .05) were found post-intervention (t1) for depressive symptoms (Mean Difference (MD) = 2.11, Standard Error (SE) = 0.63, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [0.87, 3.36]), sleep quality (MD = 2.59, SE = 0.97, 95% CI [0.66, 4.51]), well-being (MD = -1.54, SE = 0.68, 95% CI [.-2.89, -0.18]), and stress (MD = 6.91, SE = 3.48, 95% CI [0.01, 13.81]). Screen time increased rapidly after the intervention and at follow-up the values were once again approaching the initial level.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights mental health improvements through smartphone screen time reduction. Three weeks of screen time reduction showed small to medium effect sizes on depressive symptoms, stress, sleep quality, and well-being. The results suggest a causal relationship, rather than a merely correlative one, between daily smartphone screen time and mental health.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was preregistered on Open Science Framework (trial registration number: A9K76) on November 8, 2023.

Parental psychological control and adolescent smartphone addiction: roles of reactance and resilience

BACKGROUND

Problematic smartphone use is a prevalent issue addressed in this study. The research delves into factors associated with problematic smartphone use, employing the self-determination theory. Specifically, the study analyzes the relationship between parental psychological control and problematic smartphone use and investigates psychological reactance as a mediating factor. Moreover, psychological resilience is considered a moderating factor in the relationship between parental psychological control and problematic smartphone use, based on the diathesis-stress model and cognitive model of resilience.

METHODS

A total of 1300 (M = 14.22, SD = 1.29) Chinese adolescents were surveyed in a cross-sectional study. They completed self-report questionnaires including the Parental Psychological Control Questionnaire, the Smartphone Addiction Scale, the Psychological Resistance Scale, and the Adolescent Resilience Scale. A moderated mediation model was examined to test predictions.

RESULTS

Correlation analysis reveals a positive correlation between parental psychological control, psychological reactance, and problematic smartphone use, and a negative correlation with psychological resilience. Moderation mediation analysis demonstrates that psychological resilience diminishes the direct association between parental psychological control, psychological reactance, and problematic smartphone use, thereby mitigating their relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings support the moderation mediation model, indicating that psychological resilience plays a crucial role in safeguarding adolescents from the adverse effects of problematic smartphone use induced by parental psychological control.

Predictors of smartphone addiction and its effect on quality of life: a cross-sectional study among the young adults in Bangladesh

The enigma of smartphone addiction (SA) has plagued academics for the last decade, now scholars believed this behaviour might affect physical and mental wellbeing. SA has become a complex problem, yet to date, there is limited research investigating the predictors of SA and its effect on "health-related quality of life (HRQoL)". This study aimed to address this gap. The data was gathered from a convenience sample of 440 young adults completed between July 2021 and February 2022 through online survey in Bangladesh. On Logistic regression, after controlling for socio-demographic variables; friend support, process, social and compulsive usage were determined as significant predictors of SA. Those who were smartphone addicted were more presumably to have a lower quality of life. This study has significant implications for designing prevention pro-grams and policy development in relation to predictors of SA and its effect on HRQoL.

The relationship between smartphone addiction and anxiety: a cross-sectional study among Moroccan nursing students

Introduction

nursing students face serious problems related to smartphone addiction. Anxiety is among the problems associated with this addiction. In Morocco, this relationship still needs to be investigated. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction and anxiety and analyze the factors related among Moroccan nursing students.

Methods

this is a cross-sectional study. The data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire that included items on socio-demographic characteristics, smartphone use, and lifestyle behaviors. The smartphone addiction scale short version and the Beck Anxiety Inventory were used.

Results

three hundred and thirty-eight (308) students took part in the study. The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 41.2%, 42.4% for females, and 39.5% for males without significant association. For anxiety, 34.1% have severe anxiety and 21.1% have moderate anxiety. In the multivariate analysis, anxiety was found to be a factor associated with smartphone addiction (OR=1.33; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.70; p=0.02). Two other independent factors were also found to be associated with smartphone addiction, which is residence with parents (OR=1.68; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.78; p=0.05) and smartphone consultation in the morning (OR=0.80; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.96; p=0.02). The participants with high levels of anxiety have the highest smartphone addiction scores with a statistically significant association (p=0.000).

Conclusion

this study showed significant levels of smartphone addiction and anxiety among the participants. A relationship between these two variables has been highlighted. It is essential to educate these young students in terms of the rational use of smartphones to avoid any negative influence on their daily lives.

The relationship between the child's problematic media use and the parental reading belief and smartphone addiction

  The aim was to reveal the prevalence of problematic media use in children and investigate its relationship with parental reading beliefs and smartphone addiction. It was conducted with 390 parents of children aged 4-6. Problematic Media Use Measure-Short Form (PMUM-SF), Parent Reading Belief Inventory (PRBI) and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) were used. Of the children, 15.4% had high levels of problematic media use. Of the parents, 14.9% had a high belief in reading, and 6.7% had a high risk of smartphone addiction. The important indicators of the child's problematic media use were the child's use of a screen alone and his/her reaction by crying when screen use was not allowed. While the child's problematic media use was positively related to parental smartphone addiction, it was negatively related, although not statistically significant, to the parent's reading belief.

Factors influencing smartphone overdependence in university students: an ecological model: a descriptive study

Purpose

This study investigated the factors influencing smartphone overdependence in university students using an ecological model and descriptive research.

Methods

Data were collected from 482 students at 13 universities in the six regions in South Korea from October 20, 2020, to March 25, 2021. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, the independent samples t-test, analysis of variance, and hierarchical multiple regression.

Results

The significant ecological factors influencing smartphone overdependence included self-awareness of smartphone overdependence (β=.33, p<.001), autonomy (β=-.25, p<.001), average daily smartphone usage time (β=.18, p<.001), gender (β=.15, p=.001), college year (β=.15, p=.020), forming relationships with others as a motivation for smartphone use (β=-.15, p=.008), friend support (β=.14, p=.006), and age (β=-.12, p=.047). The model explained 34.9% of the variance.

Conclusion

The study emphasized the role of personal and interpersonal factors, in smartphone overdependence among university students. Tailored intervention strategies are necessary to address smartphone overdependence, considering the unique characteristics of students' environments. A significant aspect of this study is that it provides an explanation of the multidimensional factors contributing to smartphone overdependence among university students, including intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental influences.

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.

Structural Validity of the Diagnostic Interview for Internet Addiction Scale for Clinical Samples in Korean Children and Adolescents: Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to validate the reliability and validity of the Diagnostic Interview for the Internet Addiction Scale (DIA) among Korean children and adolescents in the clinical setting.

METHODS

We collected the clinical data from university hospitals in South Korea and 194 children and adolescents (aged 7-18 years) completed the questionnaire. The content validity was conducted on 10 items of the DIA and an internal consistency test was performed for the verification of reliability.

RESULTS

Participants on average, aged 13.17 years (standard deviation=2.46), and 75.3% (n=146) were boys. The DIA was highly correlated with the scores of the Korean scale for Internet addiction for adolescents, Young's Internet Addiction Test, Internet addiction proneness scale for children and adolescents. The overall sampling suitability of the 10-item scale was tested using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin, resulting in a high value of 0.861. The DIA revealed a two-factor structure and the Cronbach's alpha correlation coefficient for the total scale was 0.806. Confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable model fit (root-mean square error of approximation=0.058, comparative fit index=0.950, and Tucker-Lewis Index=0.919).

CONCLUSION

The DIA may suggest in-depth-scale examinations of the factors that influence Internet addiction. We may expect that DIA would be used efficiently for the diagnosing of Internet addiction and further studies for the assessment.

The Impact of Attentiveness Interventions on Survey Data

Social and behavioral science researchers who use survey data are vigilant about data quality, with an increasing emphasis on avoiding common method variance (CMV) and insufficient effort responding (IER). Each of these errors can inflate and deflate substantive relationships, and there are both a priori and post hoc means to address them. Yet, little research has investigated how both IER and CMV are affected with the use of these different procedural or statistical techniques used to address them. More specifically, if interventions to reduce IER are used, does this affect CMV in data? In an experiment conducted both in and out of the laboratory, we investigate the impact of attentiveness interventions, such as a Factual Manipulation Check (FMC) on both IER and CMV in same-source survey data. In addition to typical IER measures, we also track whether respondents play the instructional video and their mouse movement. The results show that while interventions have some impact on the level of participant attentiveness, these interventions do not appear to lead to differing levels of CMV.

Mobile phone addiction and negative emotions: an empirical study among adolescents in Jiangxi Province

Background

The relationship between mobile phone addiction and negative affect among adolescents is characterized by intricate interconnections. These factors have an impact on the emotional and psychological well-being of young people. While previous studies have provided preliminary insights into this relationship, further in-depth exploration and research is required to fully understand the complex mechanisms behind these relationships and to identify any group differences.

Methods

This study collected questionnaire data from 493 adolescents aged 17-22 years old in Jiangxi Province. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and structural equation modelling (SEM) with the aim of exploring the mechanisms and differences in the effects of mobile phone addiction on negative emotions of different youth groups.

Results

The findings of the study indicated notable discrepancies in mobile phone addiction by gender and place of residence. Secondly, mobile phone addiction among adolescents positively drives negative emotions. The findings revealed that negative emotions triggered by mobile phone addiction were significantly higher among rural adolescents than urban adolescents; male adolescents exhibited higher levels than female adolescents in the same place of residence. Additionally, family factors, physical exercise and psychological resilience can directly or indirectly inhibit mobile phone addiction among adolescents. Finally, adolescents' psychological resilience can significantly alleviate the negative emotions associated with mobile phone addiction. Physical exercise and family factors can reduce the negative emotional impact of mobile phone addiction by increasing psychological resilience.

Conclusions

This study employs the relationship between mobile phone addiction and negative emotions in adolescents, reveals the complex mechanisms and group differences behind these relationships, and provides a fresh perspective for understanding the impact of mobile phone addiction on adolescents' mental health, as well as a scientific basis for the development of effective interventions.

Psychometric properties of an arabic translation of the short boredom proneness scale (SBPS) in adults

BACKGROUND

The Short Boredom Proneness Scale (SBPS) is a common tool for assessing individuals' inclination toward Boredom. The Arabic version of the SBPS has not been validated despite the language being spoken by over 420 million people worldwide. Therefore, this study aims to translate the SBPS into Arabic and prove its psychometric properties on a sample of Arabic-speaking adults from Lebanon.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 410 participants (72.4% females, aged 18-52 years) were recruited to participate by completing the translated Arabic version of the SBPS through an online Google Forms survey. The validation of the scale was carried out using the Confirmatory Factor Analysis approach.

RESULTS

Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed a better fit after adding a correlation between residuals of items 2 and 6. The SBPS showed high internal reliability (ω = 0.81; α = 0.81). No significant differences were found in SBPS scores between males and females. Concurrent validity indicated that higher levels of anxiety, loneliness, and smartphone addiction were significantly associated with greater boredom proneness.

CONCLUSION

Our results confirm the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the SBPS, suggesting its suitability for use among Lebanese general population adults. Further research is needed to assess its applicability in clinical settings and diverse Arabic-speaking populations. This concise and user-friendly tool potentially promotes cross-cultural research on boredom proneness.

Body satisfaction, problematic smartphone use, sleep deprivation, and psychological well-being in adolescents: A half-longitudinal serial mediation study

The relationships between body satisfaction, problematic smartphone use, sleep deprivation and psychological well-being have been examined with cross-sectional methods. However, the lack of any longitudinal study in which these variables were examined together made it necessary to conduct this study. In this study, we tested whether problematic smartphone use and sleep deprivation serially mediate the relationship between body satisfaction and psychological well-being. After matching the data obtained from the first (T1) and second waves (T2) of the study, the final sample consisted of 222 Turkish adolescents (M = 14.08 years, SD = 0.70). For this purpose, a study was conducted in two separate time waves and structural equation modeling was used to test longitudinal serial mediation between variables. According to the results, problematic smartphone use and sleep deprivation play a serial mediating role in the longitudinal relationship between body satisfaction and psychological well-being.