The mediating effect of impulsivity between mindfulness and smartphone addiction

Abstract

Objective Problematic smartphone usage may have negative effects on various psychological traits: e.g., studies have indicated that it is accompanied by low levels of mindfulness and high impulsivity. This study explored the psychological mechanism of problematic smartphone usage via the relationship between addictive smartphone use patterns, mindfulness and impulsivity. Methods Ninety participants were evaluated with the Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale and classified into the problematic smartphone usage group (n=42; 24 women; mean age: 27.6±7.2 years) or normal usage group (n=48; 22 women; mean age: 30.1±5.7 years). All participants completed self-report questionnaires evaluating their affective symptoms, impulsivity and mindfulness and computerized comprehensive attention tests that assessed selective, sustained and divided attention. We compared the variables between the groups and explored the relationship between mindfulness, impulsivity and addictive smartphone use patterns through mediation analysis. Results The problematic smartphone usage group showed higher impulsivity and lower mindfulness than the normal usage group. There were no significant group differences in attention test performance. The level of addictive patterns was significantly correlated with impulsivity and mindfulness levels but not attention test performance. In the mediation analysis, acting with awareness (a facet of mindfulness) reduced levels of addictive smartphone use patterns through attentional impulsivity. Conclusion Acting without sufficient awareness could influence addictive smartphone use patterns by mediating attentional impulsivity. This supports existing evidence that the executive control deficits present in high impulsivity contribute to problematic smartphone use. Cognitive behavioural therapy for mindfulness could strengthen executive control over smartphone usage by promoting awareness.