The association of depression and suicidal behaviors with smartphone use among Korean adolescents

Abstract

<Abstract>Objectives: This study aims to examine the association of depression, suicidal behaviors with smartphone use behaviors among Korean adolescents. Methods: We analyzed data from 'Youth Health and Life Skills Survey' in 2013. The survey was based on self-reported questionnaires distributed to 915 grade 7th and 8th students at four middle schools in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, Korea in 2013 to evaluate the effects of 'Youth Health and Life Skills' program. Depression and suicidal behaviors were measured in terms of the experience rate, and smartphone use behaviors were measured with average hours of smartphone use a day and overindulged behaviors in smartphone use by using 5-point Likert scales. We examined the association of depression and suicidal behaviors with smartphone use behaviors by using t-test and regression analyses. Results: 21.5% of respondents have ever felt depressed or hopeless to lose interest in school life almost everyday for 2 weeks or longer in the past year. The experience rate of suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicidal attempt were 21.1%, 6.1%, and 5.7%, respectively. The mean of average hours of smartphone use a day was 3.9 hours, and the mean score of overindulged behaviors in smartphone use was 2.99. The students who have experienced depression and suicidal behaviors were more likely to have more smartphone using time and higher scores of overindulged behaviors in smartphne use than those who have not. Conclusion: We concluded that for preventing addictive or problematic smartphone use behaviors among adolescents we should consider and develop more positive strategies for the moderate use of smartphone than regulatory measures, which include the implementation of skill-based health education program including life skills at schools and the development of smartphone applications useful for resolving mental stress and promoting mental health.

The relations of internet and smartphone addictions to depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidality among public university students in Klang Valley, Malaysia

“…What is worth mentioning is that smartphone addiction was found to be positively correlated to depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidality at bivariate level. This result lends support to existing findings 25,32,34,41‐46 47 .…”

“…This result lends support to existing findings. 25,32,34,[41][42][43][44][45][46] To the best of our knowledge, there was only one local study stated that smartphone addiction was not associated with the severity of depression among young adults. 47 In the present hierarchical regression analysis, internet addiction emerged as the strongest predictor for all the dependent variables (ie, depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidality).…”

“…24 Students who have experienced depression and suicidality were more likely to have longer smartphone usage time and higher scores on overindulged behaviors in smartphone use as compared with those who have not. 25 Few studies have examined the relationship between internet and smarphone addicitions and sucidality in youths. It is clinically and academically beneficial to study the relationships between suicidality and internet and smartphone addictions in university students.…”

“…Suicidality refers to a host of cognitive errors and behavioral maladjustment, such as suicidal thoughts, suicidal ideation, suicidal plans, suicide attempts, and completed suicides 24 . Students who have experienced depression and suicidality were more likely to have longer smartphone usage time and higher scores on overindulged behaviors in smartphone use as compared with those who have not 25 . Few studies have examined the relationship between internet and smarphone addicitions and sucidality in youths.…”

Impact of Time Spent in Front of Screens and Frequency of Risk Behaviours According to Type of Screen: A Cross Sectional Study in Teenagers

“…As concerns type of screen, a study conducted in 2013 showed that teenagers who had previously in their life experienced depression were more likely to use their cell phones more frequently than other adolescents (Kang & Lee, 2014).…”