Abstract
ObjectiveThis study examined problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) and its relationship with life satisfaction in Chinese university students during the pandemic.MethodsAn anonymous online survey was conducted in a university in China. The Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used to assess the severity of problematic mobile phone use and life satisfaction, respectively. Data on demographic and health-related factors were also collected.ResultsA total of 1,491 undergraduate students (73.3% were male) completed the survey. On average, students in the survey reported spending 7.4 ± 4.3 h/day on phone use. Their MPAI score was 38.1 ± 13.3 and SWLS score was 24.9 ± 6.8, respectively. After controlling for confounding factors, the MPAI score was significantly associated with lower life satisfaction. Multiple linear regression revealed that higher monthly allowances, frequent insomnia, longer phone use duration were significantly associated with PMPU.ConclusionUniversity students in China spend nearly half of their waking hours on mobile phone use, significantly longer than before the COVID-19 pandemic. PMPU is associated with insomnia, lower life satisfaction and higher allowances. If the trend continues after the pandemic, interventions may be needed. Increase in-person interactions, limiting online social and gaming time, awareness campaign may be effective in reducing the impact of PMPU and improve life satisfaction.
Highlights
Smartphones have become a necessity and the most important communication tool because of their convenience and accessibility [1,2,3], and this is especially true for young people
We found that problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) was significantly associated with higher monthly allowances, frequent insomnia, longer phone use time (Table 5)
We found the Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI) score was significantly associated with lower life satisfaction
Summary
Smartphones have become a necessity and the most important communication tool because of their convenience and accessibility [1,2,3], and this is especially true for young people. Due to the technological advances, smartphones have been used in academic, professional, social and recreational activities, including those tasks that were previously only possible on computers. Excessive smartphone use could lead to a series negative health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation and insomnia [4,5,6,7], and low life satisfaction. Mobile-Phone Use and Life Satisfaction excessive smartphone use may increase the risk of problematic mobile phone use (PMPU), and even lead to smartphone addiction [8]. A few other terms have been used to describe this phenomenon: problematic mobile phone use, mobile phone addiction, excessive mobile phone use, and compensatory mobile phone use [9]. PMPU is characterized by excessive attention and uncontrolled dedication to one’s cell phone use [10]
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