Relationships Between Smartphone Dependency and Aggression Among Middle School Students: Mediating and Moderating Effects of Ego-Resilience, Parenting Behaviour, and Peer Attachment.

Youn-Joo Um,Yun-Jung Choi,So Yeon Yoo

doi:10.3390/ijerph16193534

Abstract

This study examined the moderating and mediating effects of ego-resilience, parenting behaviour, and peer attachment on the relationship between smartphone dependency and aggression. Participants included 1863 middle school youths who used smartphones and had responded to the 7th Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS), which was conducted by Korea’s National Youth Policy Institute. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses. First, ego-resilience showed a partial mediating effect on the relationship between smartphone dependency and aggression (significant moderating effects were revealed). Second, parenting behaviour demonstrated a partial mediating effect on the relationship between smartphone dependency and aggression (no moderating effects observed). Third, peer attachment had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between smartphone dependency and aggression (no moderating effects were observed). These findings suggest that mental health and student growth can be improved as children develop by implementing various nursing and health care programs designed to improve ego-resilience, parenting behaviour, and peer attachment.

Highlights

Developments in digital media technology have resulted in substantial changes in everyday life.The Information and Communication Policy Institute indicates that usage rates among adolescents have rapidly increased, from 5.9% in 2010 to 40% in 2011 and 92% in 2017 [1]
The risk group exhibiting a strong dependency on smartphones among middle school students was determined at 30.4%; this is relatively high compared to the adult addiction rate of 17.4%
This study further showed that ego-resilience had a moderating effect on the relationship between smartphone dependency and aggression

Summary

Introduction

The risk group exhibiting a strong dependency on smartphones among middle school students was determined at 30.4%; this is relatively high compared to the adult addiction rate of 17.4%. Smartphone usage time was the highest among middle school students [2]. Smartphone dependency refers to the continuous use of smartphones [3]. While smartphones have various functions and additional applications (apps) that can be used, participants reported that the more gaming entertainment they participated in, the more pictures they took, the more frequent their social media usage and texts, and the more frequently they watched videos, the higher their dependency on smartphones became. If they frequently talked to their families or listened to music, they reported less dependency on their smartphones [4]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion