Examining associations between smartphone use, smartphone addiction, and mental health outcomes: A cross-sectional study of college students

Abstract

Background: Prior studies have indicated the complex relationships of smartphone use and smartphone addiction with mental health and life satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the structural relationships among smartphone use, smartphone addiction, mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress [DAS] and satisfaction with life [SWL]). Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected by convenience sampling via an online survey of undergraduate students at a Midwestern university in the United States. The sample size of601 collected from undergraduate students that owned a smartphone and completed responses to the variables was utilized in this study. We assessed the hypothesized variables, including smartphone use, smartphone addiction, and mental health outcomes variables on a Likert-type scale. Structural analysis was used to examine the relationships. Results: Results suggested that smartphone use had a significant negative association with DAS symptoms (β = -.31, t = -3.81, P < .001) and was positively associated with SWL (β =.25, t = 3.41, P < .001). However, smartphone use had a significant positive relationship with smartphone addiction (β = .48, t = 5.51, P < .001). Smartphone addiction was positively related to DAS (β = .44, t = 6.33, P < .001), but it was not related to SWL (β = -.08, t = -1.26, P > .05). Conclusion: This study enhances our understanding of the associations between smartphone use and the health and well-being of undergraduate students. Implications for supporting their psychological health are discussed.

Relationship Between Korean Adolescents’ Dependence on Smartphones, Peer Relationships, and Life Satisfaction

“…Using longitudinal analysis, this study showed that increased smartphone usage and excessive smartphone dependence can negatively affect peer relationships, a critical competence of social development during early adolescence, and that such negative relationships with peers hinder satisfaction. The study’s results not only support previous findings using cross-sectional data (Chui, 2015 ; Kil et al, 2021 ) but also empirically support the causal relationship between variables, that dependence on smartphones can negatively affect adolescents’ social relationships and lives over time. Specifically, the dependent use of smartphones by early adolescents can have a detrimental effect on life satisfaction through negative relationships with peers.…”

“…However, to date, this research has examined the correlation between smartphone addiction and life satisfaction (Hale et al, 2020 ) or only analyzed the correlations between smartphone use, friendship, and emotional loneliness (Erdem & Efe, 2021 ). Although some studies (Jianfei et al, 2021 ; Kil et al, 2021 ) examined the structural relationships between smartphones, psychological and emotional problems, and life satisfaction, the research was primarily relying upon cross-sectional survey data. Cross-sectional research based on data collected at the same time makes it difficult to grasp the relationship between variables clearly; that is, when analyzing the relationship between variables using cross-sectional data, there is a limitation in that it is difficult to reflect the temporal precedence between variables (Youn & Cho, 2014 ).…”

Investigate the relationship between cell-phone over-use scale with depression, anxiety and stress among university students

“…The study of the Tas [35] showed that depression and anxiety have significantly predicted cell phone addiction, which was consistent with the results of Kil et al [36], and Volungis et al [37], who observed positive and significant correlation between cell phone addiction and anxiety, depression and stress. Zanjani et al [38], indicated that the more depression among students, the higher rate of cell phone addiction.…”

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

“…A recent study reported an increased prevalence of mobile phone addiction among students during the COVID-19 pandemic [6]. Studies have also reported that mobile phone addiction negatively affects college students' academic performance and mental health [7,8]. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the critical influences on mobile phone addiction among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”