Abstract
This research aims to study the existing relationships among the factors of state anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and alcohol consumption regarding problematic mobile phone use, as assessed by the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale. The study was conducted among 1,126 participants recruited among the general Spanish population, aged 16–65 years, by assessing the predictive value of these variables regarding this problematic use. Initially tobacco use was also considered being subsequently refused because of the low internal consistency of the scale used. In general terms, the results show that this problematic use is mainly related to state anxiety and impulsivity, through the dimensions of Positive and Negative Urgency. Considering its predictive value, multiple regression analysis reveals that state anxiety, positive and negative urgency, and alcohol consumption may predict problematic mobile phone use, ruling out the influence of depression.
Highlights
There have been many and various attempts to find the key determinants of mobile phone addiction or problematic use, coupled with discussions on whether it is an addiction, as with substances, or a behavior that, in situations of abuse, may lead to similar issues
It is clear that mobile phones, as with many technology-related behaviors, foster situations of problematic use, especially among young people and adolescents, such situations are found in adult populations [1]
Except for the tobacco use (FTND), excluded, and alcohol use (AUDIT), in general terms the instruments used in this research showed adequate internal consistency coefficients through Cronbach’s alpha, in line with those obtained in other studies
Summary
There have been many and various attempts to find the key determinants of mobile phone addiction or problematic use, coupled with discussions on whether it is an addiction, as with substances, or a behavior that, in situations of abuse, may lead to similar issues. Over and above this debate, there are far-reaching consequences that are associated with problematic mobile phone use, such as insomnia and sleep disorders [7,8,9,10,11], stiffness and muscular problems, eye problems [12], pain and weakness in thumbs and wrists [13], auditory and tactile illusions [14, 15], anxiety and mood swings [16, 17], high blood pressure [18], and behavioral and social problems such as “sexting” or the impulse to send or receive pictures or videos possessing sexual content [19, 20], mobile phone use in hazardous or prohibited situations, and the widespread interference of mobile phone use in personal, professional, social, or family life [21,22,23] Against this backdrop, the need to find variables that are associated with or those that determine dependence and problematic mobile phone use has led to research on factors, such as education, occupation, lifestyle, gender, age, personality, and drug use.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
