Sedentary Behavior and Problematic Smartphone Use in Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Self-Control

Abstract

This study investigated smartphone use characteristics including the purpose of smartphone use (i.e., leisure, learning, or work) and situational smartphone use (i.e., sitting, standing, or moving about) in Chinese adolescents. Moreover, it tested the moderating role of self-control in the link between sedentary behavior and problematic smartphone use. A total of 947 adolescents completed measures of the purpose of their smartphone use, situational smartphone use, sedentary behavior, self-control, time on smartphone, and smartphone addiction. Results showed that the majority of smartphone use was for leisure and learning, and 90.9% of adolescents reported typically sitting as they used the smartphone. Problematic smartphone use was positively correlated with sedentary behavior and negatively correlated with self-control. Moreover, the relationship between sedentary behavior and problematic smartphone use was moderated by self-control, in that the negative correlation was stronger for adolescents with low self-control and weaker for those with high self-control. These results contribute to the understanding of when sedentary behavior is associated with problematic smartphone use. Several limitations and implications are discussed in this study.

Quantifying smartphone “use”: Choice of measurement impacts relationships between “usage” and health.

“…Beyond psychological impacts associated with usage, research has also linked greater smartphone use with increased sedentary behaviors (Lepp et al, 2013;Zagalaz-Sánchez et al, 2019). Accordingly, people report that 87% of all phone use occurs while seated (Barkley & Lepp, 2016), and similarily, 90.9% of users report that they typically are sitting when using their smartphone (Xiang et al, 2020). Thus, it has been proposed that increased smartphone use lowers energy expenditure due to sedentary behaviors, and it is this mechanism, which results in greater body fat and higher rates of obesity (Hamilton et al, 2007;Kim et al, 2015).…”

The Association Between Smartphone Addiction and Sleep: A UK Cross-Sectional Study of Young Adults

“…Studies have highlighted associations of smartphone addiction with reduced productivity and with lower academic attainment ( 8 , 9 ), demonstrating the negative functional impact on young people's lives and future prospects. Indirect harms resulting from smartphone addiction include propensity for accidents, for example through use whilst driving, and potential contribution to the obesity crisis by facilitating sedentary lifestyles ( 10 , 11 ). Although at an early stage, there is also some neuroimaging evidence of volume and activity parallels between smartphone addiction and other addictions ( 12 ).…”

The Relationship of Cigarette Addiction, Smartphone Addiction and Self-Control of Men's Dormitory Students

“…The direction of the relationship between self-control and cigarette dependence is the opposite, which means that if a person's self-control is high, it will be followed by a low dependence on smoking and vice versa (Baumeister, 2017). The results of previous research also explain that the relationship between self-control and smartphone addiction is the opposite, which means that the higher the level of self-control a person has, the lower the level of smartphone addiction, and vice versa (Xiang et al, 2019). Self-control also helps individuals to carry out various kinds of activities that are felt to help individuals carry out activities in daily life.…”