Socio-Psychological Dimensions of Mobile Phone Addiction and Usage Patterns amongst Teenagers in Higher Institutions of Learning in Kwara State

Abstract

Mobile phone addiction is now a common phenomenon in the 21st century, especially among teenagers due to the unusual cravings in the use of technological devices. In view of this phenomenon, the study examined the socio-psychological dimensions of mobile phone addiction and usage patterns amongst teenagers in three Higher Institutions of Learning in Kwara State, Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools were utilized to analyze data collected on a sample size of 321 undergraduate teenage students whose selection were based on simple random sampling technique across three Higher Institutions of Learning which were the University of Ilorin, Kwara state University, and Al-Hikmah University respectively. Findings from the data analyses revealed uniformity in the usage patterns of teenagers in the use of their mobile devices. Significant positive relationships were also established between mobile addiction and socio-psychological dimensions such as loneliness, boredom, egoism, and self-independence at varying significant levels.