Problematic smartphone use: A conceptual overview and systematic review of relations with anxiety and depression psychopathology

Sexual Function and Problematic Use of Smartphones and Social Networking Sites

Problematic technology use needs to be tackled so that children and adolescents can reap positive benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<p>Against the background of the rapid spread of mobile technologies and the emergence of related forms of problematic behavior, there is a shortage of Russian-language questionnaires that allow you to study the problematic use of smartphones by adolescents and young people. The article presents the results of a study aimed at developing an abbreviated version of the questionnaire version of the questionnaire "Metacognitions about problematic smartphone use" (S. Casale, L. Caponi, G. Fioravanti), based on the idea that metacognitions play a decisive role in the formation of problematic behavior. The sample consisted of 781 respondents aged 14-25 years. The tested version of the questionnaire includes 10 items evaluated on a 5-point Likert scale, which were isolated from the original version of the questionnaire (24 items) using the focus group method (n = 35). Analysis of the questionnaire structure (n = 636) allowed combining the questionnaire items into two scales: "Positive beliefs about problematic smartphone use" and "Negative beliefs about problematic smartphone use". Satisfactory indicators of design validity were obtained (confirmatory factor analysis: χ2/df = 1.84, p<0.01, CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.04), internal consistency of scales, (Kronbach coefficient: "Positive beliefs about problematic smartphone use" α = 0.83; "Negative beliefs about problematic smartphone use" α = 0.72), competitive validity (correlation analysis: r≥0.28 for both scales of the questionnaire and indicators of smartphone dependence, as well as problematic Internet use). Acceptable indicators of retest reliability were also obtained (correlation analysis: "Positive beliefs about problematic smartphone use" r = 0.64; "Negative beliefs about problematic smartphone use" r = 0.56). The possibilities of using the questionnaire to solve the problems of prevention, detection and overcoming of problematic smartphone use, as well as prospects for further research using the developed questionnaire are discussed.</p>

The role of stress and motivation in problematic smartphone use among college students

Personality and problematic smartphone use: A facet-level analysis using the Five Factor Model and HEXACO frameworks

Psychological processes linking problematic smartphone use to sleep disturbance in young adults

Sexual function and problematic use of smartphones and online social networking sites

BackgroundThe global rise of problematic smartphone use has resulted in economic, health, and cognitive losses among middle-aged and older adults. Studies on the influencing factors of problematic smartphone use in this population have been conducted from an individual perspective; few have explored the role of social interaction activities. We investigated the association of Dancing with Care (DWC) with problematic smartphone use among middle-aged and older adults in China. DWC is promoted as a group-based social interaction activity to enhance social integration in communities. It is famous for its flexible participation formation as a dancing activity based on people’s interests and emotions. Specifically, we analyzed whether it may contribute to low problematic smartphone use in this population.MethodsWe surveyed 998 residents aged 45–89 years from 10 urban and rural communities each in two cities in China from April to May 2024. DWC team attachment, problematic smartphone use, loneliness, socioeconomic status, and other variables were assessed. A moderated mediation model was used to analyze whether DWC team attachment lessened participants’ problematic smartphone use and whether an urban–rural difference existed. We also examined whether loneliness mediated the effect of DWC team attachment on problematic smartphone use.ResultsDWC team attachment was negatively associated with participants’ problematic smartphone use. Loneliness mediates the association between DWC team attachment and older participants’ problematic smartphone use. Moreover, urban and rural residence moderated the association between DWC team attachment and problematic smartphone use.ConclusionDancing with Care team attachment partially corresponded to lower problematic smartphone use and less loneliness. This effect varied between rural and urban areas, as urban participants had weaker social networks, higher information literacy, and stronger smartphone use habits compared with rural participants. This study highlights the association between a social interaction activity and problematic smartphone use among middle-aged and older adults.

Smartphone use is increasing worldwide. Despite the benefit of using a smartphone, a growing body of research has reported smartphone use's negative effect. Lack of self-control has been associated with problematic use of smartphones as well as stress. However, there is still little evidence of how religiosity could have an impact on problematic smartphone use. This study aimed to examine the indirect effect of religiosity on problematic smartphone use via self-control and stress. A few 146 undergraduate students enrolled in this study. They completed an online survey comprising problematic smartphone use, religiosity, self-control, and stress. Our findings showed a negative association between religiosity or self-control with problematic smartphone use. Stress also correlated positively with problematic smartphone use. Path analysis demonstrated the mediation effect of self-control on religiosity and problematic smartphone use, but not the stress. These results underlined the psychological mechanism underlying smartphone use of students. Moreover, religiosity could be considered to prevent the detrimental effect of problematic smartphone use.

Although numerous studies have examined the direct association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use, the empirical evidences for the association are inconsistent. Also, the factors that can mediate or moderate the association remain underexplored. With the aim to address these knowledge gaps, based on 680 undergraduate students recruited from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), this study has examined (1) the direct association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use, (2) the mediating role of escapism motivation on the association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use, (3) the moderating role of present hedonistic time perspective on the association between escapism motivation and problematic smartphone use, and (4) the moderating role of present hedonistic time perspective on the indirect association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use through escapism motivation. The findings have shown that (1) the association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use was not statistically significant, (2) the association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use was mediated by escapism motivation, (3) present hedonistic time perspective has positively moderated the association between escapism motivation and problematic smartphone use, and (4) present hedonistic time perspective has positively moderated the indirect association between academic stress and problematic smartphone use through escapism motivation. The current study identified escapism motivation and present hedonistic time perspective as the factors that can explain “how” and “for whom” academic stress causes problematic smartphone use and provided important practical implications for the intervention of problematic smartphone use among undergraduate students.

Background: Problematic smartphone use has increasingly become the focus of attention in recent years. Although it has been noted that parental psychological control is significantly correlated with teenagers’ social anxiety and problematic smartphone use, little is known about how these factors may interact with college students. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether social anxiety mediates the association between parental psychological control and problematic smartphone use. Methods: a total of 534 Chinese college students aged 17–25 years (male 59.0%, female 41.0%) participated in the study (M = 20.40, SD = 1.72). The Parental Psychological Control questionnaire, the Social Phobia Inventory, and the Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale were used to evaluate parental psychological control, social anxiety, and problematic smartphone use, respectively. Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation analysis, regression analysis, and mediation analysis. Results: the results showed that (1) social anxiety was positively correlated with problematic smartphone use among college students, (2) parental psychological control has a significant correlation with college students’ social anxiety, (3) college students’ social anxiety was positively related with problematic smartphone use, and (4) social anxiety plays a mediation role in the association between parental psychological control and problematic smartphone use. Conclusions: in conclusion, social anxiety plays a mediating role in the relationship between parental psychological control and problematic smartphone use, and reducing parental psychological control is an effective intervention means to directly or indirectly reduce college students’ problematic smartphone use. In addition, attention should be paid to parenting styles, and measures should be taken to increase social interaction among college students so as to reduce their problematic smartphone use.

Problematic smartphone use refers to a pattern of behavior that negatively affects individuals’ psychological, social, and physical well-being and has therefore become a significant focus of academic research. Individuals engaging in problematic smartphone use often experience withdrawal symptoms when unable to access their smartphones, which can disrupt daily life, academic performance, and social relationships. The development of problematic smartphone use has been linked to several psychological factors, with the fear of missing out emerging as a key predictor. Fear of missing out is conceptualized as an outcome of unmet basic psychological needs, as explained within the framework of Self-Determination Theory. Moreover, previous studiessuggestthatboredompronenessmay also play a role in problematic smartphone use, as individuals prone to boredom tend to use smartphones to seekstimulating or rewarding experiences. Given the adverse consequences of problematic smartphone use, it is crucial to better understand the underlyingfactors contributing to this behavior. The present study investigated the mediating role of boredom proneness in the relationship between fear of missing out and problematic smartphone use among university students. In this study, these relationships were examined theoretically within the framework ofthe Person-EmotionCognition-Application Interaction model. According to this theoretical perspective, boredom proneness serves as an affective reaction mechanism in the relationship between fear of missing out and problematic smartphone use. A total of 515 university students from a state university participated in this cross-sectional study, completing an online survey via Google Forms. Measures included the Short Boredom Proneness Scale, theSmartphone Addiction Scale–Short Form, and the Fear of Missing Out Scale. Analyses controlled for gender. The mediation pattern held aftercontrolling forgender; female students reported higher problematic smartphone use than males, whereas gender did not predict boredom proneness. The findings revealed that fear of missing out has both a direct and an indirect effect on problematic smartphone use, with boredom proneness serving as a partialmediator in this relationship. These results highlight the importance of targeting both fear of missing out and boredom proneness in intervention and prevention strategies aimed at reducing problematic smartphone use. Cite this article as: Gezgin, D. M. (2025). Unveiling the mediating role of boredom proneness in the relationship between FoMO and problematic smartphone use among undergraduates. Addicta: The Turkish Journal on Addictions, Published online November 7, 2025. doi:10.5152/ ADDICTA.2024.25519

Objectives: The prevalence of smartphone use among children raises concerns about the potential for problematic smartphone use. According to previous findings, it was reported that psychological factors affect children’s problematic smartphone use. However, cognitive factors affecting children’s problematic smartphone use have not been investigated enough. To find out how to mitigate and prevent their problematic smartphone use, the present study explores whether children’s negative automatic thoughts affect their problematic smartphone use. It also seeks to investigate the moderation effect of weekend family rituals on the relationship between children’s negative automatic thoughts and problematic smartphone use.Methods: The study participants included 274 fifth and sixth graders attending elementary schools in Seoul and Incheon, South Korea. Statistical analysis for the present study was conducted using SPSS 22.0 and PROCESS macro version 3.2.Results: The study found that children’s negative automatic thoughts are positively related to problematic smartphone use. In addition, children’s negative automatic thoughts are adversely related to weekend rituals, and weekends ritual are also negatively associated with children’s problematic smartphone use. Children’s negative automatic thoughts have an effect on their problematic smartphone use. It also found that weekend family rituals moderated the association between children’s negative automatic thoughts and their problematic smartphone use. That is, children who automatically perceive themselves negatively tend to be dependent on smartphones.Conclusion: Based on the results, this study suggests that it is necessary not only to design intervention programs for preventing children’s problematic smartphone use but also to support work and life balance so that families can create and maintain their weekend family rituals.

PurposeProblematic smartphone use can significantly jeopardize adolescents’ academic development as well as their physical and mental health. Although previous studies have explored the role of parental mediation strategies in adolescents’ problematic smartphone use, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship between parental mediation and adolescents’ problematic smartphone use, with a specific focus on the chain mediation effects of basic psychological needs and positive outcome expectations.MethodsThis study conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,947 students from three junior high schools in Wuhan, Yichang, and Xiaogan, China, using a cluster sampling method. Validated scales were employed to measure parental mediation, problematic smartphone use, basic psychological needs, and positive outcome expectations.ResultsThe findings revealed that active mediation not only directly influences problematic smartphone use but also exerts an indirect effect through the individual mediation of basic psychological needs and positive outcome expectations, as well as through the sequential mediation from basic psychological needs to positive outcome expectations. Parental supervision not only directly influenced problematic smartphone use but also exerted indirect effects through the independent mediating role of basic psychological needs and the chain mediation pathway from basic psychological needs to positive outcome expectations.ConclusionActive mediation and basic psychological needs significantly reduced adolescents’ problematic smartphone use, whereas parental supervision and positive outcome expectations significantly increased it. These findings provide theoretical insights into the mechanisms of problematic smartphone use and offer practical implications for educational strategies, emphasizing the importance of parents selecting appropriate mediation approaches, fulfilling basic psychological needs, and reducing positive outcome expectations to mitigate adolescents’ problematic smartphone use.

Problematic smartphone use is an emerging public health problem since the launch of the first smartphone 10 years ago. In this article, pathways to problematic use of smartphones, approaches to deal with this issue and their limitations are discussed. This includes problematic use of smartphones by people who self-identify that they or their family members use mobile devices in a problematic way. Extreme problematic use (e.g. relating to online gambling or heavy gaming) that severely disrupts people’s lives is a form of digital addiction is excluded from this discussion. Smartphone use can be problematic for some people due to the availability of constant connection, the addictiveness of applications (apps) combined with personal psychological factors. This is facilitated by characteristics of the technology, including easy access, the possibility of escaping daily life, being able to remain anonymous online, and the frequency of alerts and messages. While various non-technical interventions, such as digital detoxes, and digital interventions, including apps to limit use, have been developed to help people control their smartphone use, none of these has proven to work yet. An overview of currently available apps for problematic smartphone use is provided. Further work is needed on various aspects of problematic smartphone use, including the understanding of how smartphone use impacts on people’s lives, strengthening the definition of problematic smartphone use, and validation of its measurement, and more rigorous development and assessment of tools. We hope that these efforts will help people to use their smartphones in a healthy and effective way.