Abstract
Technology is being used by individuals of all ages; young children show a high tendency of problematic use of devices such as smartphones. This study aimed to identify different profiles that vary in conflicts related to problematic mobile phone use and maladaptive communication and emotional patterns. Therefore, we examined whether there are significant differences in bullying and cyberbullying among teenagers who have a problem utilizing mobile phones. The study participants were 810 students of Compulsory Secondary Education (M = 13.99, SD = 1.32), with 52.2% being girls. Questionnaires on school violence and experiences related to mobile phones were administered. The latent profile analysis identified three different types of problematic mobile phone use: (a) low levels of conflict was associated with mobile phone abuse and low levels of communication and emotional use; (b) moderate levels of conflict was associated with mobile phone abuse and moderate levels of communication and emotional use; and (c) high levels of conflict was associated with mobile phone abuse and high levels of communication and emotional use. The study results highlight significant differences in the manifestations of school violence between the profiles. Finally, this study’s findings form the basis for the development of education programs to prevent mobile phone abuse and school violence and therefore academic adjustment.
Highlights
Mobile phones have become essential in our daily lives
The cluster and latent profile analyses identified three different types of problematic mobile phone use: (a) a first group of 534 students (65.9%), characterized by low levels of conflicts related to mobile phone abuse and low levels communicational and emotional use; (b) a second group of 209 students (25.8%), characterized by moderate levels of conflict related to mobile phone abuse and violence of teachers toward students (VTS) VPI VPD verbal violence among students (VVS) verbal violence of students toward teachers (VVT) social exclusion (SE) DB violence through new information and communication technologies (VICT)
We have shown evidence of three different conflict clusters regarding the use of mobile phones and inappropriate emotional and communication patterns, instead of taking them as one
Summary
Mobile phones have become essential in our daily lives. The mobile phone is a tool that allows communication, expression, access to information and leisure, and even aiding autonomy and sometimes prestige via generating symbolic appearances. It fulfills various playfulexpressive, referential, and communicative functions (García and Monferrer, 2009; Lee et al, 2014; Besoli et al, 2018). Social networks utilized via a mobile phone constitute a form of social interaction, allowing dynamic exchange and for users to expand their usual communication and emotional expression. Mobile phone usage may damage interpersonal relationships (Lee et al, 2014)
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