Exploring the Influence of Problematic Mobile Phone Use on Mathematics Anxiety and Mathematics Self-Efficacy: An Empirical Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Problematic mobile phone use is a pervasive issue globally and has aroused wide public concerns. Prior studies have indicated that problematic mobile phone use has a series of negative effects on individuals’ physical and mental health. However, the effects on student learning have seldom been investigated. During the COVID-19 pandemic, home quarantine and social distancing have led to individuals’ greater problematic mobile phone use, and it is essential to have a better understanding of individuals’ problematic mobile phone use and its negative effects during this unprecedented period. Given this, the present study investigates the effects of university students’ problematic mobile phone use on mathematics self-efficacy and mathematics anxiety, which play critical roles in mathematics learning. This study collected data from 420 students in March 2022, when a large-scale COVID-19 lockdown took place in Shanghai, China. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Our findings show that university students’ problematic mobile phone use can significantly impact mathematics anxiety and indirectly—yet considerably—influence mathematics self-efficacy. This study calls for increased public concern regarding students’ problematic mobile phone use during the COVID-19 pandemic.