Association of smartphone overuse with depression, anxiety, and other addictive behaviors: A nationwide community sample of Korean adults

Abstract

Smartphone is one of the essential items. However, it may negatively affect a user's mental health when it is overused. The study aimed to investigate associations of smartphone overuse with depression, anxiety, and the relationship with other addictive behaviors and disorders. A total of 2,509 subjects were randomly selected through a one-person-per-household method. Smartphone Overuse Screening Questionnaire (SOS-Q) and the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI) were used. Linear regression and Pearson correlation analyses were performed to evaluate associations of smartphone overuse with depression, anxiety, and relationship with other addictive psychiatric disorders respectively. Among 2509 participants, 138 (14.76%) demonstrated smartphone overuse. Participants who used their smartphones for more than three hours a week were more likely to be single and females compared to those who used their smartphones for less than three hours a week. Smartphone overuse showed significant associations with depression, anxiety disorder, and a significant relationship with internet and game overuse, alcohol dependence, and nicotine dependence disorder. Internet-related behavior showed the strongest relationship with smartphone overuse. Although the sample size was adequate, a large number of subjects did not complete the questionnaire. People with psychiatric disorders should be advised to use smartphones in moderation.