Association between the Perceived Household Financial Decline Due to COVID-19 and Smartphone Dependency among Korean Adolescents

Abstract

This cross-sectional study identified the association between COVID-19-related perceived household financial decline and smartphone dependency among adolescents in South Korea. Data from the 2020 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of Korea was used and 54,809 middle and high school students were included. COVID-19-related perceived household financial decline was categorized as no financial decline, mild, moderate, and severe. Smartphone dependency was calculated by 10 questions and was largely categorized as yes and no, and as normal, low, and high (prevalence rate: 25.0%). Binary and multinomial regression analyses were performed to analyze the association. The more severe the financial decline, the more pronounced the risk of high-risk smartphone dependency (mild financial decline: odds ratio (OR) 1.11, 95% CI 0.96–1.28; moderate: OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.04–1.43; severe: OR 2.56, 95% CI 2.06–3.17). Poor family relationships (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03–1.10) and severe social conflict (OR 2.99, 95% CI 2.50–3.58) were also related to smartphone dependency. The ORs were 2.63 with more than three bathrooms and 1.63 with their own bedroom. Smartphone dependency among adolescents is closely related to COVID-19-related perceived household financial decline. As smartphone dependency relates to complicated psychological issues, further evaluation is necessary, especially for vulnerable adolescents.

COVID-19 Victimization Experience and College Students’ Mobile Phone Addiction: A Moderated Mediation Effect of Future Anxiety and Mindfulness

“…Currently, several studies have identified factors causing mobile phone addiction during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, household financial decline due to COVID-19, peer phubbing, interpersonal alienation, loneliness, escape motivation, perceived stress, and social cynicism have been reported to be significant positive predictors of mobile phone addiction [23][24][25][26][27][28]. Kayis et al [10] conducted a questionnaire survey among 773 adults and determined that the fear of COVID-19 had a significant positive predictive effect on mobile phone addiction.…”

Perceived household financial decline and physical/mental health among adolescents during the COVID-19 crisis: Focusing on gender differences

“…The following items were used: “Do you think the household financial status of your families has become more difficult than before due to COVID-19?” Response options are on a 4-point Likert scale: strongly no, no, yes, and strongly yes. We have operationalized these response options into “no decline,” “mild decline,” “moderate decline,” and “severe decline,” aligned with the previous study ( Jung et al, 2022 ).…”

Changes in Adolescent Health Behavior and the Exacerbation of Economic Hardship During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study From the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey

“…Studies reported an increased prevalence of obesity and overweight among adolescents during the pandemic [ 5 ], as well as an increased prevalence of anxiety when families experienced economic difficulties due to COVID-19 [ 6 ]. Smartphone usage and alcohol consumption among adolescents increased during the pandemic, particularly in families experiencing economic difficulties [ 7 , 8 ]. These findings suggest that COVID-19 significantly affected the daily lives of Korean adolescents and that the alterations in household economic status because of COVID-19 influenced their lifestyle habits.…”