Investigation of Correlated Internet and Smartphone Addiction in Adolescents: Copula Regression Analysis

Abstract

Internet and smartphone addiction have become important social issues. Various studies have demonstrated their association with clinical and psychological factors, including depression, anxiety, aggression, anger expression, and behavioral inhibition, and behavioral activation systems. However, these two addictions are also highly correlated with each other, so the consideration of the relationship between internet and smartphone addiction can enhance the analysis. In this study, we considered the copula regression model to regress the bivariate addictions on clinical and psychological factors. Real data analysis with 555 students (age range: 14–15 years; males, N = 295; females, N = 265) from South Korean public middle schools is illustrated. By fitting the copula regression model, we investigated the dependency between internet and smartphone addiction and determined the risk factors associated with the two addictions. Furthermore, by comparing the model fits of the copula model with linear regression and generalized linear models, the best copula model was proposed in terms of goodness of fit. Our findings revealed that internet and smartphone addiction are not separate problems, and that associations between them should be considered. Psychological factors, such as anxiety, the behavioral inhibition system, and aggression were also significantly associated with both addictions, while ADHD symptoms were related to internet addiction only. We emphasize the need to establish policies on the prevention, management, and education of addiction.

Tackling the ‘digital pandemic’: The effectiveness of psychological intervention strategies in problematic Internet and smartphone use—A meta-analysis

“…Tateno et al (2019) revealed a highly significant correlation of r = 0.67 ( p < 0.0001) between Internet addiction measured by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and smartphone addiction as measured by the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV) in a Japanese sample. In their study, Lee et al (2020) found a significant correlation of r = 0.49 ( p < 0.001) between Young’s Internet Addiction Test (Y-IAT) and the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS).…”

The Relationship between Social Anxiety, Smartphone Use, Dispositional Trust, and Problematic Smartphone Use: A Moderated Mediation Model

“…PSU shares some commonalities with the better-researched concept of internet use disorder (IUD) [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. PSU usually involves: (i) spending a lot of time using the smartphone; (ii) unsuccessful attempts to reduce such behavior; (iii) reporting a positive mood when using it, while the mood changes to negative during offline periods; and (iv) reporting interpersonal problems (with family or friends, at work or school) due to excessive use [ 20 ].…”

The roles of behavioral inhibition/activation systems and impulsivity in problematic smartphone use: A network analysis

“…Additionally, it has been reported in a prospective study that there are bidirectional interactions between addiction and BIS/BAS (31). Importantly for this study, although few related studies have been conducted, some studies have revealed that BIS/BAS is closely related to PSU and can be risk factors for PSU (25,(32)(33)(34). For example, a study has found that BIS is significantly associated with PSU through copula regression analysis (33).…”

“…Importantly for this study, although few related studies have been conducted, some studies have revealed that BIS/BAS is closely related to PSU and can be risk factors for PSU ( 25 , 32 – 34 ). For example, a study has found that BIS is significantly associated with PSU through copula regression analysis ( 33 ). Overall, existing researches establish the close relationships between BIS/BAS and PSU.…”