Validation of Self-Reported Smartphone Usage Against Objectively-Measured Smartphone Usage in Hong Kong Chinese Adolescents and Young Adults

Postmenopausal women's cognitive function and performance of virtual reality tasks

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess whether prior knowledge of computer use determines performance of virtual reality tasks by postmenopausal women and whether menopausal symptoms, sociodemographic factors, lifestyle and cognition modify or interfere with their performance.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study included 152 postmenopausal women divided into two groups: computer users and non-users. Age, ethnicity, time of menopause, menopausal symptoms, female health status, level of physical activity and cognitive function were considered. The participants played a virtual reality game and were assessed for hits, errors, omissions and game time. The Mann-Whitney, chi-square and Fisher exact tests and multivariate linear regression analysis were used.

RESULTS

Postmenopausal computer users play virtual reality games (p = 0.005) better than postmenopausal non-users of computers. Vasomotor symptoms were high in women who used computers compared to those who did not (p = 0.006). Multivariate linear regression analysis found that the best-fitting predictors for the number of hits - that is, age (p = 0.039), Mini-Mental State Examination score (p = 0.006) and the headache symptom (p = 0.021) - influence the performance of virtual reality tasks.

CONCLUSION

Computer users performed virtual reality tasks better than non-users. Headache and age but not vasomotor symptoms negatively affected the postmenopausal women's performance.

Association between time spent on smartphones and digital eye strain: A 1-year prospective observational study among Hong Kong children and adolescents

Prolonged electronic screen use can cause digital eye strain. It can be difficult to rectify due to increasing smartphone reliance, potentially leading to serious public health problems. To investigate the association between time spent on smartphones and digital eye strain (DES) among Hong Kong Chinese school-aged children. Of a total of 1,508 students (748 males, 49.6%) from 8 to 14 years old (mean age = 10.91 years, SD = 2.01) who provided valid data on DES, the 1,298 (86%) who completed the DES questionnaire at 1-year follow-up were included in the analysis. DES was measured using a 10-item scale, and the sum of the 10 dichotomised scores was used as the DES total score. The most commonly reported symptoms were eye fatigue (n = 804, 53.3%), blurred vision (changing from reading to distance viewing) (n = 586, 38.9%), and irritated or burning eyes (n = 516, 34.2%). The DES total scores at baseline and 1-year follow-up were 2.91 (SD = 2.90) and 3.20 (SD = 3.19), respectively. Linear regression controlling for demographic and socio-economic confounders showed that participants with baseline smartphone usage of 241 + min/d had a significantly higher baseline total DES score than those with baseline smartphone usage of 0-60 min/d (2.44 vs 3.21, P < 0.001), and participants with baseline smartphone usage of 181-240 min/d had a significantly higher 1-year follow-up total DES score than those with baseline smartphone usage of 0-60 min/d (2.80 vs 3.50, P = 0.003).

Smartphone use and daily cognitive failures: A critical examination using a daily diary approach with objective smartphone measures

While smartphones have brought many benefits and conveniences to users, there is continuing debate regarding their potential negative consequences on everyday cognition such as daily cognitive failures. A few cross-sectional studies have found positive associations between smartphone use and cognitive failures. However, several research gaps remain, such as the use of cross-sectional designs, confounds related to stable individual differences, the lack of validity in self-report measures of smartphone use, memory biases in retrospective self-reports, and the lack of differentiation between smartphone checking and smartphone screen time. To simultaneously address the aforementioned shortcomings, the current study examined the within-person associations between various objective indicators of smartphone use and daily cognitive failures using a 7-day daily diary study. Multilevel modelling revealed that smartphone checking, but not total smartphone screen time, predicted a greater occurrence of daily cognitive failures at the within-person level. Surprisingly, we also found negative within-person associations between smartphone screen time for social- and tools-related applications and daily cognitive failures, suggesting that some types of smartphone use may temporarily benefit one's cognitive functioning. This finding demonstrates the importance of studying the specific functions of smartphone use and their differential cognitive consequences, as well as highlights the complex relations between smartphone use and cognition.

Validated assessment tools for screen media use: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Accurate measurement of adult and child screen media use are needed to robustly assess its impact on health outcomes. Our objective was to systematically review screen media use measurement tools that have been validated against an objective "gold standard" tool.

METHODS

The search strategy was initially conducted in Medline Ovid and translated to Embase, Web of Science, PsychInfo and Cochrane. A modified natural language search was conducted in Google Scholar and IEEE. The initial search was conducted in March 2021, and an updated search was conducted in June 2022. Additional studies were included from the references. Studies had to describe the validation of a tool to measure screen media use on participants of any age against a 'gold standard' or comparable objective measure. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) was used to assess the criterion validity. Four authors reviewed the titles in two rounds and extracted data.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine articles were included in the review. Studies measured TV, computer, mobile device and social media site screen media use through: self or parent report, direct or video observation, computer and mobile device use tracking programs, and through other novel devices such as wearable devices and cameras. Correlations of self or parent report of screen media with the gold standard were lower than correlations of technology-based measures, and video observation with the gold standard. The COSMIN criterion validity ratings ranged from poor to excellent; most of the studies received a global score of fair or poor.

CONCLUSIONS

Technology based validated tools that more directly measure screen use are emerging that have been validated against a gold standard for measuring screen use. However, practical, objective measures of diverse types of screen media use that have been tested on diverse populations are needed to better understand the impact of screen media use on the development and physical and mental health of children and adults.

Influence of perceived discrimination on problematic smartphone use among Chinese deaf and hard-of-hearing students: Serial mediating effects of sense of security and social avoidance

BACKGROUND

Reducing the rate and impact of problematic smartphone use (PSU) among deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students has become a social issue. Research has suggested that perceived discrimination is associated with PSU, although the underlying mechanism of this association for DHH students is not clear.

AIMS

This study explored the mediating roles of sense of security and social avoidance in the association between perceived discrimination and PSU among Chinese DHH students.

METHOD

Five hundred and seventy DHH students, selected through simple random sampling, participated in an online survey, which included measurements of perceived discrimination, sense of security, social avoidance, and PSU. The results were analyzed with SPSS 25.0 and Mplus 7.0.

RESULTS

(1) Perceived discrimination, sense of security, and social avoidance were significantly associated with PSU among DHH students; (2) sense of security and social avoidance played mediating roles separately in the association between perceived discrimination and PSU; (3) sense of security and social avoidance played serial mediating roles in the relationship between perceived discrimination and PSU.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that discriminatory experiences of DHH students are related to a relatively low sense of security and high social avoidance, which may lead to PSU. The results have important implications for the prevention of and intervention for PSU among DHH students.

The Association Between Temperament and Characteristics, Smartphone App Use Patterns and Academic Performance of University Students

BACKGROUND

Smartphone use patterns may predict daily life efficacy and performance improvements in sports. Additionally, personal characteristics may be associated with smartphone overuse.

METHODS

We investigated the correlation between the temperament and character inventory (TCI) and academic performance using smartphone log data. We hypothesized that the elite and general groups, divided based on academic performance, differed according to the TCI and downloadable smartphone apps (applications). Additionally, we hypothesized a correlation between smartphone app usage patterns and TCI. A total of 151 students provided smartphone log data of the previous four weeks. They also completed the TCI and provided academic records of the previous year.

RESULTS

The first and second most frequently used apps by both groups of students were social networking and entertainment, respectively. Elite students scored higher on novelty seeking, reward dependence, persistence, self-directedness, and self-transcendence than general students. In all participants, the usage time of serious apps was correlated with the scores for novelty seeking (r = 0.32, P < 0.007), reward dependence (r = 0.32, P < 0.007), and self-transcendence (r = 0.35, P < 0.006). In the elite group, the usage time of serious apps was correlated with the scores for novelty seeking (r = 0.45, P < 0.001), reward dependence (r = 0.39, P = 0.022), and self-transcendence (r = 0.35, P = 0.031). In the general group, the usage time of serious apps was correlated only with self-transcendence (r = 0.32, P < 0.007).

CONCLUSION

High usage time of serious apps can help sports majors to excel academically. Particularly among sports majors, serious apps are related to activity, the desire for rewards and recognition, and the tendency to transcend themselves.

Exploring Deeper Causes Linking Adolescents' Mental Disorders to Mobile Phone Use Problems: Grounded Theory Approach

BACKGROUND

Evidence from a variety of studies link mobile phone use with an increase in mental health problems, with the situation being particularly prevalent in China and exacerbated by the COVID-19 quarantine.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to reveal underlying connections between mobile phone use and mental disorders of adolescents, and to develop a theory to help parents and counseling psychologists better understand and intervene in future cases.

METHODS

A total of 37 teenagers having both mental health and mobile phone use problems, along with their parents, were included for individual interviews. These interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using qualitative methods of grounded theory.

RESULTS

The grades-ranking-first mentality is one of the main factors causing problems such as defective family bonding and peer influences, pushing teenagers with mental disorders to seek comfort in the virtual world through their cellphones.

CONCLUSIONS

The idea proposed in this study is not only inspiring for psychological counseling and therapy on adolescents with mental problems but also beneficial for school educators and parents to better understand the adolescents. The findings of the study are also particularly noteworthy in the postpandemic age, where parents whose work locations and schedules are substantially affected due to any emergencies should try to build a relaxing and cozy atmosphere at home to avoid possible conflicts with adolescents.